Remarks
by the President at Reenlistment of Military
Service Members
The East Room
THE PRESIDENT:
Please be seated. (Applause.) Welcome. Thank you
all very much. Welcome to the White House. We're
joined today by 30 men and women who have chosen
to reenlist in the United States Armed Forces.
Each of them decided years ago to serve and defend
our country. Today they reaffirm their commitment
and take the oath again.
| Like
many thousands of other soldiers,
sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and
Marines who will re-enlist this year,
these men and women are answering the
highest call of citizenship. They have
stood between the American people and
the dangers of the world -- and we are
glad they are staying on duty.
(Applause.) |
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I want to thank
Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Secretary of Defense,
for joining us, and members of the defense team. I
want to thank Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs; and Pete Pace, the Vice Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs. I want to thank James Roche, the
Secretary of the Air Force; Les Brownlee, the
Acting Secretary of the Army; HT Johnson, the
Acting Secretary of the Navy, for being with us
today.
I appreciate
Admiral Vernon Clark, the Chief of Naval Operation
for being here; General Michael W. Hagee, the
Commandant of the Marine Corps; General John M.
Keane, Acting Chief of Staff for the Army. I
appreciate Terry D. Scott, Master Chief Petty
Officer of the Navy, for being with us today; John
L. Estrada, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps;
Frank A. Welch, Master Chief Petty Officer of the
Coast Guard; members of the Armed Forces and our
fellow Americans.
Before the draft
ended on July 1st, 1973, generations of men
entered military service by the decision of
others. And during two world wars, and in Korea,
and in Vietnam, they served nobly and they served
well. Yet in the past 30 years, we have seen the
great advantages of a military in which all serve
by their own decision. Our country's all-volunteer
force attracts idealistic and committed young
Americans. They stay in service longer because
they have chosen the military life. The result is
a military with the highest levels of training,
experience, motivation, and professionalism.
The military life
is rewarding. Yet, even at its best, that life is
difficult, often involving separation and danger.
Those who willingly make these sacrifices, and the
families who share their hardships, have the
respect and the gratitude of their fellow
Americans.
All in our
military are serving in one of history's critical
hours. Less than two years ago, determined enemies
of America entered our country, committed acts of
murder against our people, and made clear their
intentions to strike again. As long as terrorists
and their allies plot to harm America, America is
at war. We did not choose this war. Yet, with the
safety of the American people at stake, we will
continue to wage this war with all our might.
From the
beginning, we have known the effort would be long
and difficult, and that our resolve would be
tested. We know that sacrifice is unavoidable. We
have seen victories in the decisive defeat of two
terror regimes, and in the relentless pursuit of a
global terror network. Yet the war on terror goes
on. We will not be distracted, and we will
prevail. (Applause.)
Of those directly
involved in organizing the September the 11th
attacks, almost all are now in custody or
confirmed dead. Of the senior al Qaeda leaders,
operational managers, and key facilitators we have
been tracking, 65 percent have been captured or
killed.
Still, we
recognize that al Qaeda has trained thousands of
foot soldiers in many nations and that new leaders
may emerge. And we suspect that some al Qaeda
deserters will attach themselves to other
terrorist groups in order to strike American
targets. Terrorists that remain can be certain of
this: We will hunt them by day and by night in
every corner of the world until they are no longer
a threat to America and our friends. (Applause.)
At this moment,
American and allied forces continue the work of
fighting terrorists and establishing order in
Afghanistan. When we removed the Taliban from
power, surviving al Qaeda members fled from most
of that country. However, many terrorists sought
sanctuary along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border,
and some are still hiding there. These al Qaeda
and Taliban holdouts have attacked allied bases
with unguided rockets, conducted ambushes, and
fired upon border posts. In close cooperation with
the Afghan and Pakistani governments, America is
engaged in operations to find and destroy these
terrorists.
Since the
beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, it is
important for our fellow citizens to know that
Pakistan has apprehended more than 500 terrorists,
including hundreds of members of al Qaeda and the
Taliban.
As this fight
continues, the people of Afghanistan are moving
forward with the reconstruction of their country
and the founding of a democratic government. They
have selected a President. They're building a
national army. And they are now in the final
stages of drafting a new constitution.
America and other
countries continue to provide humanitarian aid and
assistance in building clinics and schools and
roads. Joined by other nations, we are deploying
the first group of provincial reconstruction teams
to various cities in Afghanistan, groups of
experts who are working with local officials to
improve public safety, promote reconstruction, and
solidify the authority of elected governments.
Afghanistan still
has many challenges, but that country is making
progress, and its people are a world away from the
nightmare they endured under the Taliban. Pakistan
and Afghanistan are among many governments that
understand the threat of terror and are determined
to root it out.
After the terrible
attacks in Riyadh on May the 12th, the government
of Saudi Arabia has intensified its longstanding
efforts against the al Qaeda network. Recently
Saudi's security services apprehended Abu Bakr,
believed to be a central figure in the Riyadh
bombing, and killed a major al Qaeda operational
planner and fundraiser, a man known in terrorist
circles as "Swift Sword."
Saudi authorities
have also uncovered terrorist operations in the
holy city of Mecca, demonstrating once again that
terrorists hold nothing sacred and have no home in
any religion. America and Saudi Arabia face a
common terrorist threat, and we appreciate the
strong, continuing efforts of the Saudi government
in fighting that threat.
The war on terror
also continues in Iraq, where coalition forces are
engaging remanent of the former regime, as well as
members of terrorist groups. We met the major
combat objectives in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We
ended a regime that possessed weapons of mass
destruction, harbored and supported terrorists,
suppressed human rights, and defied the just
demands of the United Nations and the world.
The true monuments
of Saddam Hussein's rule have been brought to
light -- the mass graves, the torture chambers,
the jail cells for children. And now we are moving
forward with the reconstruction of that country by
restoring basic services, maintaining order,
searching for the hidden weapons, and helping
Iraqis to establish a representative government.
The rise of Iraq
as an example of moderation and democracy and
prosperity is a massive and long-term undertaking.
And the restoration of that country is critical to
the defeat of terror and radicalism throughout the
Middle East. With so much in the balance, it comes
as no surprise that freedom has enemies inside of
Iraq. The looting and random violence that began
in the immediate aftermath of war remains a
challenge in some areas. A greater challenge comes
from former Baath Party and security officials who
will stop at nothing to regain their power and
their privilege.
But there will be
no return to tyranny in Iraq. And those who
threaten the order and stability of that country
will face ruin, just as surely as the regime they
once served.
Also present in
Iraq are terrorist groups seeking to spread chaos
and to attack American and coalition forces. Among
these terrorists are members of Ansar al-Islam,
which operated in Iraq before the war and is now
active in the Sunni heartland of the country. We
suspect that the remnants of a group tied to al
Qaeda associate al-Zarqawi are still in Iraq,
waiting for an opportunity to strike. We're also
beginning to see foreign fighters enter Iraq.
These scattered
groups of terrorists, extremists and Saddam
loyalists are especially active to the north and
west of Baghdad, where they have destroyed
electricity lines and towers, set off explosions
at gas pipelines and ignited sulfur fires. They
have attacked coalition forces and they're trying
to intimidate Iraqicitizens. These groups believe
they have found an opportunity to harm America, to
shake our resolve in the war on terror, and to
cause us to leave Iraq before freedom is fully
established. They are wrong, and they will not
succeed. (Applause.)
Those who try to
undermine the reconstruction of Iraq are not only
attacking our coalition, they are attacking the
Iraqi people. And we will stand with the Iraqi
people, strongly, as they build a hopeful future.
Having liberated Iraq as promised, we will help
that country to found a just and representative
government, as promised. Our goal is a swift
transition to Iraqi control of their own affairs.
People of Iraq will be secure, and the people of
Iraq will run their own country.
At present,
230,000 Americans are serving inside or near Iraq.
Our whole nation, especially their families,
recognizes that our people in uniform face
continuing danger. We appreciate their service
under difficult circumstances, and their
willingness to fight for American security and
Iraqi freedom. As Commander-in-Chief I assure
them, we will stay on the offensive against the
enemy. And all who attack our troops will be met
with direct and decisive force.
As America fights
our war against terror, we will continue to depend
on the skill and the courage of our volunteer
military. In these last 22 months, our Armed
Forces have been tested and tested again. In every
case, in every mission, America's servicemen and
women have brought credit to the uniform, to our
flag, and to our country. We have needed you, and
you have never let us down.
I want to thank
you for keeping your pledge of duty to America,
and thank you for renewing that demanding pledge
today.
And now, General
Myers will administer the oath of enlistment in
the Armed Forces of the United States. May God
bless you. (Applause.)
END
Source: White
House Web Site
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