[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 48 (Monday, December 8, 2008)]
[Page 1467]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai, India

November 29, 2008

    On behalf of all Americans, Laura and I extend our condolences to 
those suffering from the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. We mourn 
those who lost their lives, including American citizens. We pray that 
the injured will recover. We pledge the full support of the United 
States as India investigates these attacks, brings the guilty to 
justice, and sustained its democratic way of life.
    My administration has been monitoring the situation in India closely 
since the attacks on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, I spoke to Prime 
Minister Singh from Camp David. I sent our heartfelt condolences to the 
Prime Minister. This morning I held a video conference with Secretary 
Rice, our Ambassador to India, our consul general in Mumbai, and other 
national security officials. We reviewed the latest developments, and we 
are working to ensure that American citizens in India are safe. 
Throughout the process, we have kept President-elect Obama informed.
    The killers who struck this week are brutal and violent, but terror 
will not have the final word. The people of India are resilient; the 
people of India are strong. They have built a vibrant, multiethnic 
democracy that can withstand this trial. Their financial capital of 
Mumbai will continue to be the center of commerce and prosperity.
    The leaders of India can know that nations around the world support 
them in the face of this assault on human dignity. And as the people of 
the world's largest democracy recover from these attacks, they can count 
on the world's oldest democracy to stand by their side.
    Thank you very much. May God bless the people of India.

Note: The President spoke at 12:51 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of 
India; U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford; and Paul A. Folmsbee, 
consul general, U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai.