[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 12 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Pages 420-421]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Briefing at the Department of State

March 24, 2008

    Madam Secretary, thank you very much for your hospitality. I just 
had a very interesting dialog on how to strengthen the State 
Department's capacity to bring freedom and peace around the world, how 
to make sure the State Department works collaboratively with the Defense 
Department as we deal with some of the more difficult areas and really 
take advantage of some of the great opportunities that we're faced with.
    And so I really want to thank you, Madam Secretary, and I thank the 
folks who work in this building. Our citizens have really no idea of how 
competent, courageous, and successful the people here who work at the 
State Department are. I do. After my--now my eighth year as President, 
I've gotten to know the people in the State Department well. And I'm 
impressed, and so should our citizens.
    Obviously, we want to expand the reach of the State Department by 
increasing the size and its efficiencies and to make sure that there's 
interoperability. And along these lines, of course, I'm fully aware that 
folks who have worked in the State Department lost their lives and--in 
Iraq, along with our military folks. And on this day of reflection, I 
offer our deepest sympathies to their families. I hope their families 
know that citizens pray for their comfort and their strength. Whether 
they were the first one who lost their life in Iraq or recently lost 
their lives in Iraq, that every life is precious in our sight.
    And I guess my one thought I wanted to leave with those who still 
hurt is that one day people will look back at this moment in history and 
say, ``Thank God there were courageous people willing to serve, because 
they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come.'' That I 
have vowed in the past, and I will vow so long as I'm President, to make 
sure that those lives were not lost in vain; that, in fact, there is a 
outcome that will merit the sacrifice that civilian and military alike 
have made; that our strategies going forward will be aimed at making 
sure that we achieve victory, and therefore, America becomes more 
secure, these young democracies survive, and peace more likely as we 
head into the 21st century.
    So, Madam Secretary, I'm honored to be here. And I thank you very 
much for your hard work and your dedication.
    Thank you all.

[[Page 421]]

Note: The President spoke at 3:03 p.m.