[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 36 (Monday, September 10, 2007)]
[Pages 1177-1178]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Luncheon Hosted by Prime Minister John Howard of Australia 
in Sydney

September 5, 2007

    Thank you. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your hospitality. 
Janette, thank you for joining us.
    So the Prime Minister said, ``Do you want to eat lunch with some of 
our finest citizens?'' I said, ``Sure.'' He said, ``Fine, I'm going to 
introduce you to the Australian Defense Force folks.'' And I appreciate 
you having me. It's a nice barbecue you threw for us. Looking forward to 
a little cowboy music. [Laughter] But most of all, I've been looking 
forward to saying thanks for those who wear the uniform.
    These are tough times. They're times I know that your families 
wonder whether or not it's worth it for you to be in the military. For 
those of you who have been to Iraq or Afghanistan--I saw this wounded 
man over here--you know that people wonder, is it worth it? Is it worth 
the sacrifice? And I told some folks today at a press conference, if it 
wasn't worth it for our own peace and security, I wouldn't put our own 
troops in.
    I believe the work that you're doing alongside our forces is 
necessary for peace. I believe we are writing one of the great chapters 
in the history of liberty and peace. And the Prime Minister has given me 
a chance to thank you; so I want to thank you. You've got a fabulous 
military.
    I talked to our folks all the time about what is it like to be side 
by side with the Aussies again. And they say, ``It's a great honor and a 
privilege.'' And so thanks for being in the military. Thanks for 
representing your country. Thanks for making the sacrifice necessary for 
peace. The work you're doing is necessary work, and we're going to win. 
And we'll succeed. And when people look back at this chapter in the 
history of the world, they're going to say, ``Thank God there were folks 
like you all.''
    So, Mr. Prime Minister, I'm honored to be with you. May God bless 
you all. May God bless our countries. Thanks for having me.

[[Page 1178]]

Note: The President spoke at 1:17 p.m. at Garden Island. In his remarks, 
he referred to Janette Howard, wife of Prime Minister Howard. The 
transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included 
the remarks of Prime Minister Howard.