We
believe that this week's arrests have significantly disrupted the
threat. Yet we cannot be sure that the threat has been eliminated. So as
a precaution, on Thursday, the federal government took several steps to
increase security at our airports and aboard our planes.
First, the Department of Homeland Security has raised our Nation's
threat warning to Code Red -- the highest level -- for flights from
Great Britain to America, in coordination with British authorities.
Second, we've raised the threat warning for all domestic and
international flights landing in the United States to Code Orange -- the
second highest level. We also have sent additional federal air marshals
to Great Britain to provide extra protection aboard flights from the
United Kingdom to the United States.
This plot is further evidence that the terrorists we face are
sophisticated, and constantly changing their tactics. On September the
11th, 2001, they used box cutters to hijack airplanes and kill thousands
of innocent people. This time, we believe they planned to use liquid
explosives to blow up planes in mid-air. In response, we've adjusted our
security precautions by temporarily banning most liquids as carry-on
items on planes. I know many of you will be traveling during this busy
summer vacation season, and I ask for your patience, cooperation, and
vigilance in the coming days. The inconveniences you will face are for
your protection, and they will give us time to adjust our screening
procedures to meet the current threat.
I'm grateful for the outstanding work of intelligence and law
enforcement officers in the United Kingdom and in our country. This
week's arrests were the culmination of hard work, cooperation, and
information-sharing across different agencies and different governments.
We're dealing with a new enemy that uses new means of attack and new
methods to communicate. This week's events demonstrate the vital
importance of ensuring that our intelligence and law enforcement
personnel have all the tools they need to track down the terrorists, and
prevent attacks on our country.
Because of the measures we've taken to protect the American people,
our Nation is safer than it was prior to September the 11th. Still, we
must never make the mistake of thinking the danger of terrorism has
passed. This week's experience reminds us of a hard fact: The terrorists
have to succeed only once to achieve their goal of mass murder, while we
have to succeed every time to stop them. Unfortunately, some have
suggested recently that the terrorist threat is being used for partisan
political advantage. We can have legitimate disagreements about the best
way to fight the terrorists, yet there should be no disagreement about
the dangers we face.
America is fighting a tough war against an enemy whose ruthlessness
is clear for all to see. The terrorists attempt to bring down airplanes
full of innocent men, women, and children. They kill civilians and
American servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they deliberately hide
behind civilians in Lebanon. They are seeking to spread their
totalitarian ideology. They're seeking to take over countries like
Afghanistan and Iraq so they can establish safe havens from which to
attack free nations. These killers need to know that America, Great
Britain, and our allies are determined to defend ourselves and advance
the cause of liberty. With patience, courage, and untiring resolve, we
will defend our freedom, and we will win the war on terror.
Thank you for listening.