When America puts our troops in harm's way, I believe they deserve the best training, the best equipment, and the whole-hearted support of our government....
When we put American troops in harm's way, they certainly deserve better than to have a candidate for President [referring to Hanoi John Forgery al-Qerry] use them as a protest....
You cannot lead by pushing away the allies who are already with us; or expect any support for a cause you've called a mistake, or a grand diversion, or the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time. The way to lead this coalition is not be disdainful or dismissive. The way to lead this coalition to victory is to be clear in our thinking, grateful for the sacrifices, and resolute in our determination to defeat the enemy....
I will never submit America's national security to an international test. The use of troops to defend America must never be subject to a veto by countries like France. The President's job is not to take an international poll—the President's job is to defend America....
I believe the most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch....
I'm running against a fellow who has promised at least $2.2 trillion in new spending....You can't raise enough money by taxing the rich to pay for $2.2 trillion of new spending. There's a tax gap. Guess who fills the tax gap? Yes. You've heard "tax the rich" before, but the rich hire lawyers and accountants for a reason—to stick you with the bill. The good news is, we're not going to let him tax you because we're going to win in November....
We need to do something about these frivolous lawsuits that are running good docs out of business. You cannot be pro-doctor, pro-patient, and pro-trial lawyer at the same time. You have to choose. My opponent made his choice and he put a trial lawyer on the ticket....
In this world of change, some things do not change. The values we try to live by: courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. In times of change, we'll support the institutions that give our lives direction and purpose: our families, our schools, our religious congregations. We stand for a culture of life in which every person counts, and every being matters. We stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. We stand for the appointment of federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law....
Our strategy is clear. We're defending the homeland. We're transforming our volunteer army. We will keep it an all-volunteer army. We're reforming and strengthening our intelligence services. We're staying on the offensive. We'll strike the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We will work to advance liberty in the broader Middle East and around the world, and we will prevail....
Because America led, Afghanistan is free and is fighting terror; Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders; Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests; Libya is dismantling its weapons programs; the army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom; and more than three-quarters of al Qaeda's key members have been brought to justice....
Saddam Hussein had the capability of making weapons of mass destruction. And had the world turned its head, he would have made those weapons. Had we hoped that a resolution would have worked, he would have been able to realize his dreams. He could have passed that capability or those weapons on to terrorists that hate us. After September the 11th, that was a chance we could not afford to take. The world is better off with Saddam Hussein sitting in a prison cell.
By protecting ourselves, 50 million people now live in freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. And that's in our national interest....
We'll succeed in Iraq because we've got a plan. And here's the plan: We'll train Iraqis so they can do the hard work in defending themselves; 100,000 troops are trained today, 125,000 by the end of the year. We'll continue to work with them, to give them the equipment, the training they need to defend themselves against the attacks of these terrorists. We'll help them to get the stability, help them on the road to democracy. And then our troops will come home with the honor they have earned.
We've got a great United States military, and I want to thank the veterans who are here today for having set such a great example for those who wear the uniform.
I believe in the transformational power of liberty....it's generally a little longer word than I use. Transformational....
Japan was a sworn enemy of America. Harry Truman, after World War II, believed that liberty could transform an enemy into an ally. So after we won that war, despite skepticism of some, he worked to help Japan become a democracy. And as a result of the belief that liberty can change societies, today I sit down at the table, talking about the peace we all long for, with the head of Japan. Someday, when we succeed in Iraq, an American President will be sitting down with a duly elected leader of Iraq talking about the peace, and the world our children and grandchildren will grow up in will be better for it.
I believe—I believe people long to live in a free society. I believe women in the greater Middle East long to live in freedom. I believe that if given the chance, the people of that troubled part of the world will embrace the most honorable form of government ever devised by man. I believe all these things because freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world....
On September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day that I'll never forget. There were workers in hard hats yelling at me, at the top of their lungs: Whatever it takes. I remember trying to console people as best I could, and a guy grabbed me by the arm, and he said: Do not let me down. Every day since that day, I wake up trying to figure out how better to protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes....
God bless. I appreciate you all. Thank you all.
Post a Comment