THE
VICE PRESIDENT: Don't hold back. (Laughter.) Well, that's quite a
welcome. And Lynne and I are delighted to be here today. And I want to
thank you for that fantastic welcome. And, General Eikenberry, for your
kind words, and say good afternoon to my fellow Americans. Let me also
thank General Sterling and Command Sergeant Major Savusa. It's great to
be here today. I have a message from the folks back home: We're proud of
you; we're grateful for your service; and we're behind you 100 percent.
It's good to be back at Bagram Air Field, and to express our
country's appreciation to every man and woman in Joint Task Force 76.
I'm only sorry I didn't come earlier this month. Somebody told me I
missed a chance to meet Vince McMahon, Big Show, and Triple H.
(Applause.)
I was last here a year ago, and over this time you have done
extraordinary work fighting terrorists, standing up the Afghan security
structure, building a secure and peaceful future for Afghanistan. With
Christmas and Hanukkah just around the corner, I wanted to come and let
you know how impressed we've been with the tremendous progress you've
made. And to each and every one of you, I bring the personal gratitude
and the good wishes of our Commander-in-Chief, President George W. Bush.
(Applause.)
More than four years have passed since the United States was attacked
by a terror network that received support and safe harbor from the
Taliban regime. And after the awful events of September 11th, this
nation set out to hunt down the terrorists, one by one if necessary, and
to hold accountable regimes that gave shelter to the enemies of
civilization. With good allies at our side, we came into Afghanistan,
joined up with freedom fighters, and began dismantling the training
camps of terror and the apparatus of a violent regime. It was a huge and
challenging task to face these enemies in their own element -- going
into rugged, isolated territory to find terrorists who dwell in the
shadows, in mountain ledges, and caves.
Some of the challenges in the Afghan campaign were unprecedented. For
example, our naval expeditionary forces had to establish a
forward-operating base 450 miles inland -- more than twice the distance
that previous doctrine considered supportable. And yet for all the
difficulties we had to confront, America and our superb coalition
partners acted with speed and precision -- bringing down the Taliban,
capturing or killing hundreds of al Qaeda, and liberating 25 million
people from tyranny.
As we pledged to do, our coalition has stood with this nation and
helped prepare the way for democratic institutions and a free society.
On our trip last December, Mrs. Cheney and I had the privilege of
attending the inauguration of President Hamid Karzai. Just this morning
we witnessed another milestone, as newly elected representatives took
their place as members of the Afghan Parliament. Once again, in free
elections, the Afghan people have shown the world their determination to
chart their own destiny. In this journey of freedom and progress, they
will continue to have the full support of America and our coalition. We
are proud to count Afghanistan as a free country, a fellow democracy,
and a friend of the United States of America.
We are firmly committed to the safety of the Afghan people, to
the success of this democracy, and to lasting peace and stability in the
region. And by serving here today, each and every one of you is playing
a vital role in that cause. There is still a terrorist element in this
country, and some Taliban die-hards who apparently are slow learners.
(Laughter.) The job of this Task Force is to find these enemies, to
confront them directly, and to take them out of commission. And that is
the business at hand, and you're doing it extremely well.
I also want you to know, ladies and gentlemen, that I was in Iraq
yesterday, and spent some time with soldiers, Marines, and Navy corpsmen
serving in the western part of the country. Your comrades are doing
fantastic work over there. On occasion they receive mixed signals from
politicians about whether America has what it takes to stay in the
fight. I assured them that the American people do not support a policy
of submission, resignation, and defeatism in the face of terror. In the
war on terror we are up against an entirely new kind of threat to our
security -- a threat global in scale, and often hidden from view. And
the United States has made a decision: We will engage the enemies of
civilization. We will face them with our military far from home, so we
do not have to face them on the streets of our own cities.
Along with the American servicemen and women in Task Force 76, I want
to express our nation's gratitude to all the personnel operating here at
Bagram, and to the men and women from other nations in the coalition.
Together you are "One Team." You've stayed on the offensive from day
one, and your tremendous skill and professionalism are helping to make
history.
In this fight our special forces, expeditionary forces, and Task
Force Devil are at the tip of the spear -- going into the high mountains
and along border areas. In the intel, surveillance, and reconnaissance
operations, our coalition is using aircraft, drones, and people on the
ground to keep an eye on the enemy in order to strike at the right
moment. Our forces have also found and destroyed enemy weapons caches
and IED cells. Overhead, the EC-130s provide an electronic shield around
ground forces, giving them another edge against the enemy. Here at
Bagram you operate the busiest runway in Afghanistan, and the 455th ECES
is out there every day keeping it in great repair.
At the same time, our coalition is building up the infrastructure to
improve both security and living conditions in Afghanistan. Three major
all weather combat roads have been built in the last eight months,
making our forces less vulnerable to IEDs while helping to unify this
country and strengthen its economy.
The capability, confidence, and experience level of the Afghan forces
continues to rise month by month. There have been many joint operations,
including some very tough combat against the terrorists. Since last
March, JTF-76 has completed over two hundred combat operations, and
increased operations with the Afghan National Security Forces. The
Afghan military is a respected institution, committed to its duties, and
critical to the success of this nation. Americans are proud to serve
with the forces of a free Afghanistan.
The people of Afghanistan have been through so much -- from hostile
occupation by the Soviet Union in the 1980s, to the horrors of the
Taliban in the 1990s. But this young century is turning out to be a time
of promise -- with a democracy, a market economy, equality for women,
and millions of children going to school for the first time. America has
made a long term commitment to freedom and progress in this land. And in
your conduct as members of the military here at Bagram, you are showing
the true character of the United States. I think of people like those in
Joint Task Force 76 Surgeon, who have provided medical care to thousands
of Afghan citizens, and also veterinary care to farm animals and pets. I
think of all that was done to provide relief after the earthquakes in
this area- with our military moving thousands of tons of equipment and
supplies to the affected areas, and providing treatment to thousands of
people who were injured.
I think as well of the great kindness you've shown in the
"Adopt-A-Village" program, as you go into Afghan communities with
clothing, school supplies, and toys. After going into a village one of
our soldiers said, "Once the trip's over, you're really proud of what
you've done and of the country you serve." It speaks well of America,
and of our military, that we have people like you building ties of
friendship with the citizens of Afghanistan. And it's another reason the
folks back home are grateful to you.
By fighting enemies, by standing with our friends, we honor both the
ideals and protect the security interests of the United States. The
victory of freedom in Afghanistan, as well as in Iraq, will be an
inspiration to democratic reformers in other lands. In the broader
Middle East and beyond, America will continue to encourage free markets,
democracy, and tolerance -- because these are the ideas and aspirations
that overcome violence, and turn societies to the pursuits of peace. And
as the people of this region experience new hope, progress, and control
over their own lives, we will see the power of freedom change our world,
and a terrible threat will be removed from the lives of our children and
our grandchildren.
Each one of you is helping to write a very proud chapter in the
history of freedom. You've carried out your duties in difficult
conditions, far from home and family, often risking your lives, and
experiencing the loss of comrades. You have done everything we've asked
of you. You have conducted yourselves with professionalism and with
honor. And when you return home from this part of the world, you can be
proud of your service for the rest of your life. (Applause.)
Once again, I thank you for a wonderful job on behalf of the United
States. I want you to know, especially at Christmastime, how much you
mean to America. This is a season for counting our blessings, and
Americans realize how fortunate we really are to have people like you
wearing the uniform of our country. I want to thank you, once again, for
serving far from home, in an hour of great need. You reflect immense
credit on the uniform you wear and on the cause you serve, and the
nation is proud of each and every one of you.
"One Team, One Fight." Thank you very much. (Applause.)