Yesterday, I met with Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss our strategy
to achieve these shared goals. We agreed that Lebanon's democratic
government must be empowered to exercise full authority over its
territory. Militias in Lebanon must be disarmed, the flow of illegal
arms must be halted, and the Lebanese security services should deploy
throughout the country. We also agreed that a robust multinational force
must be dispatched to Lebanon quickly. An effective multinational force
will help speed delivery of humanitarian relief, facilitate the return
of displaced persons, and support the Lebanese government as it asserts
full sovereignty over its territory and guards its borders. In addition,
Iran must end its financial support and supply of weapons to terrorist
groups such as Hezbollah -- and Syria must end its support for terrorism
and respect Lebanon's sovereignty.
Secretary Rice will return to the region this weekend, and she will
work with the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to seize this opportunity to
achieve lasting peace and stability for both countries. Next week, the
United Nations Security Council will also meet. We will work with our
allies to adopt a resolution that establishes a framework to end the
violence quickly, and mandates the multinational force. This approach
will demonstrate the international community's determination to support
the government of Lebanon, and defeat the threat from Hezbollah and its
foreign sponsors. And this approach will make possible what so many
around the world want to see: the end of Hezbollah's attacks on Israel,
the return of Israeli soldiers taken hostage by terrorists, the
suspension of Israel's operations in Lebanon, and the withdrawal of
Israeli forces.
As we work to resolve this current crisis, we must recognize that
Lebanon is the latest flashpoint in a broader struggle between freedom
and terror that is unfolding across the region. For decades, American
policy sought to achieve peace in the Middle East by promoting stability
in the Middle East, yet these policies gave us neither. The lack of
freedom in that region created conditions where anger and resentment
grew, radicalism thrived, and terrorists found willing recruits. We saw
the consequences on September the 11th, 2001, when terrorists brought
death and destruction to our country, killing nearly 3,000 innocent
Americans.
The experience of September the 11th made it clear that we could no
longer tolerate the status quo in the Middle East. We saw that when an
entire region simmers in violence, that violence will eventually reach
our shores and spread across the entire world. The only way to secure
our Nation is to change the course of the Middle East -- by fighting the
ideology of terror and spreading the hope of freedom.
So we have launched a forward strategy for freedom in the broader
Middle East, and that strategy has set in motion a transformation that
is changing millions of lives for the better. From Kabul to Baghdad, to
Beirut, and beyond, we've seen the birth of democratic governments that
are striving to serve their people, reject terror, and work for peace.
We're also seeing those who oppose democracy fighting its progress with
all the destructive power they can muster. We see this in Hezbollah's
attacks on Israel, in the suicide bombings that kill innocent Iraqis,
and in al Qaeda's campaign of terror across the world.
The enemies of freedom have shown their ability to set back our
efforts with deadly attacks, but ultimately they will fail. They will
fail because courageous leaders in the region have stepped forward to
defend freedom and set the Middle East on a better course. And they will
fail because millions of people who have suffered decades of oppression
and violence will choose to live in peace with their neighbors.
In Iraq, we will help Prime Minister Maliki's unity government defeat
the terrorists, insurgents, and illegal militias and establish a
democracy in the heart of the Middle East. In Lebanon, we will stand
with the democratic government in its efforts to rid the country of
terrorists and foreign influence and bring about a better life for the
Lebanese people. In the Palestinian Territories, we will work with
President Abbas to support the forces of moderation, and achieve our
shared vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living
side-by-side in peace and security.
This moment of conflict in the Middle East is painful and tragic. Yet
it is also a moment of opportunity for broader change in the region.
Transforming countries that have suffered decades of tyranny and
violence is difficult, and it will take time to achieve. But the
consequences will be profound -- for our country and the world. When the
Middle East grows in liberty and democracy, it will also grow in peace,
and that will make America and all free nations more secure.
Thank you for listening.