The
establishment of a democratic constitution is a critical step on the
path to Iraqi self-reliance. Iraqis are taking control of their country,
building a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself, and
defend itself. And we're helping Iraqis succeed. We're hunting down the
terrorists and training the security forces of a free Iraq so Iraqis can
defend their own country. Our approach can be summed up this way: As
Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. And when that mission of defeating
the terrorists in Iraq is complete, our troops will come home to a proud
and grateful nation.
The recent violence in Iraq is a grim reminder of the brutal nature
of the enemy we face in the war on terror. Our mission in Iraq is tough
because the enemy understands the stakes. The terrorists know that a
free Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will be a crippling blow to
their hateful ideology. And that is why our work in Iraq is a vital part
of the war on terror we're waging around the world.
This war on terror arrived on our shores on September the 11th, 2001.
Since that day, the terrorists have continued to kill -- in Madrid,
Istanbul, Jakarta, Casablanca, Riyadh, Bali, Baghdad, London, and
elsewhere. The enemy remains determined to do more harm. The terrorists
kill indiscriminately, but with a clear purpose -- they're trying to
shake our will. They want to force free nations to retreat so they can
topple governments across the Middle East, establish Taliban-like
regimes in their place, and turn the Middle East into a launching pad
for attacks against free people.
The terrorists will fail. Because we are fighting a murderous
ideology with a clear strategy, we're staying on the offensive in Iraq,
Afghanistan and other fronts in the war on terror, fighting terrorists
abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. When terrorists
spend their days and nights struggling to avoid death or capture,
they're less capable of arming and training and plotting new attacks on
America.
We're also spreading the hope of freedom across the broader Middle
East, because free societies are peaceful societies. By offering a
hopeful alternative to the terrorists' ideology of hatred and fear, we
are laying the foundations of peace for our children and grandchildren.
In the war on terror, our troops are serving with courage and
commitment, and their bravery is inspiring others to join them. All of
our services met or exceeded their active duty recruitment goals last
month, and the troops closest to the fight continue to reenlist in
impressive numbers. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines are all on
track to meet or exceed their reenlistment goals for the year. Our
troops know the stakes of this war, and Americans can have pride and
confidence in our all-volunteer forces.
In recent days, we have seen again that the path to victory in the
war on terror will include difficult moments. Our nation grieves the
death of every man and woman we lose in combat, and our hearts go out to
the loved ones who mourn them. Yet, even in our grief, we can be
confident in the future, because the darkness of tyranny is no match for
the shining power of freedom.
The terrorists cannot defeat us on the battlefield. The only way they
can win is if we lose our nerve. That will not happen on my watch.
Withdrawing our troops from Iraq prematurely would betray the Iraqi
people, and would cause others to question America's commitment to
spreading freedom and winning the war on terror. So we will honor the
fallen by completing the mission for which they gave their lives, and by
doing so we will ensure that freedom and peace prevail.
Thank you for listening.