[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 37 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Pages 1207-1208]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's Radio Address

September 13, 2008

    Good morning. This week, Americans marked 7 years since the 
terrorist attacks that shook our Nation on September the 11th, 2001. On 
that day, we witnessed unspeakable destruction perpetrated by evil men, 
but we also witnessed selfless acts of valor and compassion performed by 
courageous citizens. And we saw the strength of the American people as 
they rallied in defense of the Nation.
    On Thursday, I dedicated a new 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. In the 
years to come, parents will visit this site to remember children who 
boarded Flight 77 for a field trip and never emerged from the wreckage. 
Husbands and wives will visit the memorial to remember spouses who left 
for work one morning and never returned home. And people from across our 
Nation will visit to remember the heroism of rescue workers who rushed 
into the burning Pentagon to save the lives of their fellow citizens.
    Seven years after the attacks of 9/11, this spirit of heroism lives 
on. We see it in the courageous members of the United States Armed 
Forces. These brave men and women have volunteered to defend our Nation 
during a time of war. Every day, they are confronting our enemies abroad 
so we do not have to face them here at home. And because of their 
efforts, our Nation is safer today than it was 7 years ago.

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    In Afghanistan, where the 9/11 attacks were planned, our men and 
women in uniform toppled the Taliban regime, destroyed Al Qaida camps, 
and liberated more than 25 million Afghans. In the years since, members 
of the Taliban and Al Qaida have sought to regain power through acts of 
terror. The United States and our allies are meeting this challenge head 
on. We will not allow Afghanistan to once again become a safe haven for 
terror.
    Earlier this week, I announced additional American troop deployments 
to Afghanistan. In November, a Marine battalion that was scheduled to 
deploy to Iraq will deploy to Afghanistan instead. It will be followed 
in January by an Army combat brigade. This continuing commitment to the 
Afghan people illustrates a stark contrast: While the terrorists and 
extremists deliberately target and murder the innocent, coalition and 
Afghan forces risk their lives to protect the innocent.
    America is also on the offense against terrorists and extremists in 
Iraq. Since we launched the surge last year, violence has fallen to its 
lowest point since the spring of 2004. While the enemy in Iraq is still 
dangerous, we seized the offensive, and Iraqi forces are becoming 
increasingly capable of leading and winning the fight. As a result, 
we've been able to carry out a policy of return on success, reducing the 
number of American combat forces in Iraq as conditions on the ground 
there continue to improve.
    After reviewing conditions in Iraq, General Petraeus and the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff have recommended additional force reductions. By 
February, about 8,000 additional American troops will have returned home 
without replacement. And if this progress in Iraq continues to hold, 
General Petraeus and our military leaders believe additional reductions 
will be possible in the first half of 2009.
    In the 7 years since the attacks of September the 11th, the men and 
women of our Armed Forces and their wonderful families have been a 
source of pride for the Nation. Those who do not wear the uniform also 
have a responsibility to serve our country. After 9/11, I called on 
Americans to devote at least 4,000 hours--or 2 years over the course of 
a lifetime--to volunteering in their communities. This morning, I renew 
that call. Serving others is more than just a generous act, it is 
essential to the health of our society. And as any volunteer can tell 
you, when you bring hope to the lives of others, the life you enrich 
most is usually your own.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:30 a.m. on September 12 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on September 
13. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on September 12 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast. In his address, the President referred to Gen. David H. 
Petraeus, USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.