[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 39 (Monday, October 6, 2008)]
[Pages 1284-1285]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Briefing on the Security Situation in Afghanistan

October 1, 2008

    I want to thank General McKiernan for giving me a briefing on 
Afghanistan.

Economic Stabilization Legislation

    Before I talk about our visit, I do want to say this: I appreciate 
Senator Harry Reid's leadership in the United States Senate when it 
comes to the financial rescue plan. I also appreciate Mitch McConnell's 
leadership as well. The Senate will be voting on a very important 
measure tonight. It's a--the rescue plan--the bill has been improved by 
raising--well, by other things, raising--temporarily raising the cap 
of--on FDIC insurance.
    It's very important for Members to take this bill very seriously. 
It's important to get credit flowing again so that small businesses in 
our communities will be able to finance their operations, so that local 
municipalities will be able to get the money they need to take care of 
the needs of local citizens, so that States will be able to meet their 
needs.
    It's very important for us to pass this piece of legislation so as 
to stabilize the situation, so that it doesn't get worse and that our 
fellow citizens lose wealth and work.
    The Senate is going to take this bill up tonight. I'm hopeful 
they'll pass it, and then the House will have a chance to vote on it 
Friday morning. As I say, the bill is different, it's been improved, and 
I'm confident it will pass.

Situation in Afghanistan

    General, thank you for coming. I appreciate your service to the 
country. General McKiernan is briefing me on the situation in 
Afghanistan, what he is going to need to make sure that we continue 
helping this young democracy succeed.
    Obviously, this is a situation where there's been progress, and 
there are difficulties. There's been progress when you consider the fact 
that millions of young girls go to school that didn't have a chance to 
go to school before in Afghanistan. That's incredible progress. There's 
progress when you realize that health care needs are being met for the 
first time in--around Afghanistan. There's progress when there are roads 
being built so farmers can get product to market. That's progress.
    There's difficulties, of course, because killers can't stand this 
progress. And the general's job is to work with, obviously, not only our 
troops but the thousands of troops from NATO countries there to provide 
the security so the progress continues. And there's been some tough 
fighting, and we honor our American troops who have sacrificed so that 
Afghanistan never becomes a safe haven again for extremists who would 
harm our citizens.
    We talked about the comprehensive strategy necessary to succeed. 
I've announced more troops for Afghanistan, and the general, of course, 
is continuing to assess his needs. But we also must make sure there's a 
civilian component that runs alongside our military, that there's good 
governance, and that there's aid programs that are effective and focused 
on the people of Afghanistan, and that the infrastructure progress 
continues to be made.
    And so I want to thank you for your service; thank you for your 
candid briefing, General. I want to thank your family as well as all the 
other families who are standing by the--those who wear the uniform, as 
this Nation continues to defend her own security and defend young 
democracies.
    General, you and your troops are laying the foundation for peace. 
You're making a sacrifice today so that future generations of Americans 
don't have to worry about harm coming from a place like Afghanistan, and 
future generations of Afghans can grow up in a hopeful society. And I'm 
proud to be your Commander in Chief.

Note: The President spoke at 3:01 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. David D. McKiernan, USA, 
commander, NATO International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan. He 
also referred to H.R. 1424.

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