[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 33 (Monday, August 20, 2007)]
[Pages 1071-1072]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

August 11, 2007

    Good morning. In America, August is considered a slow news month. 
But in the war on terror, America and our allies remain on the offense 
against our enemies. And this month, we've had some encouraging news 
from both Afghanistan and Iraq.
    Earlier this week, I had a good meeting with President Karzai of 
Afghanistan at Camp David. He updated me on the work his Government is 
doing to help build a more hopeful future for the Afghan people. He told 
me that senior officials and tribal leaders from Afghanistan and 
Pakistan are meeting to discuss how to deal with the extremists who are 
targeting both their countries. And he explained why he's confident that 
his Government will prevail against the Taliban remnants who continue to 
launch attacks throughout his country.
    Here's how President Karzai put it: ``The Taliban do pose dangers to 
our innocent people. [But] they are not posing any threat to the 
Government of Afghanistan; they are not posing any threat to the 
institutions of Afghanistan or to the buildup of institutions of 
Afghanistan.'' He continued: The Taliban ``is a force that's defeated,'' 
and it is ``acting in cowardice by killing children going to school.'' 
In other words, the Taliban fighters can still launch attacks on the 
innocent, but they cannot stop the march of democracy in Afghanistan.
    In Iraq, we're working to help put the Iraqi Government on the same 
path. The surge that General Petraeus and our troops are carrying out is 
designed to help provide security for the Iraqi people, especially in 
Baghdad, and aid the rise of an Iraqi Government that can protect its 
people, deliver basic services for all its citizens, and serve as an 
ally in the war on terror. Our new strategy is delivering good results, 
and our commanders recently reported more good news.
    One encouraging development was a coalition airstrike that killed a 
terrorist named al-Badri earlier this month. Al-Badri was the mastermind 
of the bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, one of Shi'a Islam's 
holiest shrines. That bombing sparked the escalation in sectarian 
violence we saw in 2006. Al-Badri was the most notorious Al Qaida 
commander in Samarra. He sheltered foreign terrorists, and he was 
responsible for attacks that claimed many innocent lives. His death is a 
victory for a free Iraq and a sign that America and the Iraqi Government 
will not surrender the future of Iraq to coldblooded killers.
    Al-Badri is just one of the many Al Qaida leaders and other 
extremists who are coming under a withering assault across Iraq. Only a 
year ago, Al Qaida ruled places like Ramadi, terrorizing the local 
population and intimidating local authorities. Today, Al Qaida has 
largely been driven out of these cities, markets and schools are 
reopening, and normal life is returning. And since January, each month 
we have killed or captured an average of more than 1,500 Al Qaida 
terrorists and other enemies of Iraq's elected Government.
    Our surge is seizing the initiative from the enemy and handing it to 
the Iraqi people, and Iraqis are responding. Local residents are coming 
forward with tips that are helping U.S. and Iraqi forces rout out 
terrorists hiding among the population. While political progress has 
been slower than we had hoped, the Iraqi Parliament passed more than 50 
pieces of legislation in its most recent session. They approved a $41 
billion budget, created an electoral commission and military courts, and 
laid the groundwork for private sector investment in production of 
gasoline and diesel fuel. At the same time, Iraqi forces have taken 
responsibility for security in a number of areas. They are taking losses 
at a much higher rate than we are. And they're making these sacrifices 
willingly, because they are

[[Page 1072]]

determined to see their children live in freedom.
    The enemy in Iraq is still dangerous, and the surge is still in its 
early stages. Changing conditions on the ground is difficult work, but 
our troops are proving that it can be done. They are carrying out their 
mission with skill and honor. They are accomplishing great things for 
the future of our Nation and for the future of a free Iraq.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 8 a.m. on August 10 in Kennebunkport, 
ME, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 11. In his address, he 
referred to Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, commanding general, Multi-
National Force--Iraq. The transcript was made available by the Office of 
the Press Secretary on August 10 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of this address.