In New York, I met with two such leaders, President
Talabani of Iraq and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. In my
meeting with President Talabani, I told him that America will continue
to support Iraq's democratic government as it makes the tough decisions
necessary to bring security and prosperity to the Iraqi people. I
assured President Talabani that America will not abandon the Iraqi
people in their struggle to defeat the terrorists and build a free
society in the heart of the Middle East.
In my meeting with President Abbas, I told him that America remains
committed to the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine,
living side-by-side in peace and security. President Abbas shares this
goal. He's working hard to oppose violent extremists and build a society
in which the Palestinian people can raise their children in peace and
hope.
By supporting moderate leaders such as President Abbas, the United
States can help Israelis and Palestinians build a more hopeful future
and achieve the peace we all want in the Holy Land.
Next week, I will host a meeting at the White House with two
courageous leaders, President Karzai of Afghanistan and President
Musharraf of Pakistan. These two leaders are working to defeat the
forces of terrorism and extremism. Under President Musharraf, Pakistan
is siding with the forces of freedom and moderation and helping to
defend the civilized world. Many Pakistani forces have given their lives
in the fight against terrorists. President Musharraf understands the
stakes in the war on terror because the extremists have tried more than
once to assassinate him. They know he's a threat to their aspirations
because he's working to build modern democratic institutions that could
provide an alternative to radicalism. And it is in America's interest to
help him succeed.
In Afghanistan, President Karzai continues the work of building a
safer and brighter future for his nation. Today, forces from more than
40 countries, including members of the NATO Alliance, are bravely
serving side-by-side with Afghan forces. These forces are fighting the
extremists who want to bring down the free government that the people of
Afghanistan have established. America and its allies will continue to
stand with the people of Afghanistan as they defend their democratic
gains. Working with President Karzai's government, we will defeat the
enemies of a free Afghanistan and help the Afghan people build a nation
that will never again oppress them or be a safe haven for terrorists.
In the broader Middle East, the world faces a straightforward choice:
We can allow that region to continue on the course it was headed before
September the 11th, and a generation from now our children will face a
region dominated by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with
nuclear weapons; or we can stop that from happening by confronting the
ideology of hate and helping the people of the Middle East build a
future of hope. All civilized nations, especially those in the Muslim
world, are bound together in this struggle between moderation and
extremism. By working together, we will roll back this grave threat to
our way of life, we will help the people of the Middle East claim their
freedom, and we will leave a safer and more hopeful world for our
children and grandchildren.
Thank you for listening. |