President Discusses Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Lejeune
Remarks by the President to the Military Personnel and Their Families
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
10:40 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thank you all so very
much for that warm welcome. It's such an honor to be here.
Especially pleased to be traveling today with a great First Lady, Laura
Bush. (Applause.) We really appreciate your welcome and we're proud
to be with the Marines and sailors and families of Camp Lejeune.
There's no finer sight, no finer sight, than to see 12,000 United
States Marines and Corpsmen -- (applause) -- unless you happen to be a
member of the Iraqi Republican Guard. (Applause.)
For more than 60 years, Marines have gone forth from Camp Lejeune
to fight our country's battles. Now America has entered a fierce
struggle to protect the world from a grave danger and to bring freedom
to an oppressed people. As the forces of our coalition advance, we
learn more about the atrocities of the Iraqi regime and the deep fear
that Saddam Hussein has instilled in the Iraqi people. Yet, no scheme
of this enemy, no crime of a dying regime will divert us from our
mission. We will not stop until Iraq is free. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, President Bush!. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: When freedom needs defending, America turns to our
military. And as they do their job, our men and women in uniform count
on their families -- like you all here today. This is a time of
hardship for many military families. Some of you have been separated
from your loved ones for quite a while because of long deployments.
All of America is grateful for your sacrifice. And Laura and I are
here to thank each one of you. (Applause.)
We're here to thank the Marines. (Applause.) I also want to thank
the men and women of the Marine Forces Reserve who are serving here and
abroad. (Applause.) Hundreds of reserve units across America have
been activated in this time of war, and our country thanks these fine
citizens and their employers for putting duty first.
I want to thank Major General David Mize for his hospitality and
his leadership. I want to thank Major General John Castelaw,
Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, for his
leadership and strength. (Applause.) I appreciate so very much
members of the North Carolina congressional delegation who traveled
with Laura and me today -- Senators Edwards and Dole, from the great
state of North Carolina, thank you for coming. (Applause.)
I appreciate members of the United States House of Representatives
-- Congressmen Balance, Jones and McIntyre -- for traveling with us.
These five are five members of the Congress are strong supporters of
the Marines and the United States military. (Applause.)
I met the Mayor and I want to thank Madam Mayor and members of the
County Commission for being so supportive of the families and the
personnel here at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I want to thank very
much those veterans who are here, and retired military members.
(Applause.) I want to thank Lone Star. (Applause.) We kind of like
that name. (Laughter.)
I very much want to say a little something about a person that
Laura and I met at Marine One when it landed, Laura Kay Brett.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah!
THE PRESIDENT: You may know Laura -- somebody knows Laura Kay out
there. (Laughter.) But you need to know her story. You see, Laura
Kay is Director of Volunteer Services at the YMCA Camp Lejeune. She
represents hundreds, thousands of people who volunteer to make
somebody's life better. She runs a Mom-to-Mom program to help people
who may need help. Laura Kay represents the best of America, somebody
who is willing to love a neighbor just like she'd like to be loved
herself.
I want to thank Laura Kay. I want to thank the thousands of you
who are here who understand we can save somebody's life by showing them
love. We can help somebody who hurts by hugging a neighbor in need.
(Applause.)
All around Camp Lejeune are monuments to the heroic achievements of
the United States Marines. In the 14 days since the major ground war
began, the Marine Corps has added new achievements to its great story.
(Applause.)
On the first day of the campaign, Marine units were ordered to
secure 600 Iraqi oil wells and prevent environmental disaster. And
that mission was accomplished. (Applause.) U.S. Marines and our Royal
Marine allies were sent in to take the Al Faw Peninsula and clear a
path for humanitarian aid, and that job was done. (Applause.)
In the tough fighting at Al Nasiriyah, Marines continue to push
back the enemy, and are showing the unrelenting courage worthy of the
name Task Force Tarawa. (Applause.) Two nights ago, Marines and
Special Operations forces set out on a daring rescue mission -- and
thanks to their skill and courage, a brave young soldier is now free.
(Applause.)
These missions are difficult and they are dangerous, but no one
becomes a Marine because it's easy. (Applause.) Now our coalition
moves forward. Marines are in the thick of the battle. And what we
have begun, we will finish. (Applause.)
The United States and our allies pledged to act if the dictator did
not disarm. The regime in Iraq is now learning that we keep our word.
(Applause.) By our actions, we serve a great and just cause: We will
remove weapons of mass destruction from the hands of mass murderers.
Free nations will not sit and wait, leaving enemies free to plot
another September the 11th, this time, perhaps with chemical or
biological or nuclear terror. And by defending our own security, we
are freeing the people of Iraq from one of the cruelest regimes on
Earth. (Applause.)
At this hour, coalition forces are clearing southern cities and
towns of the dictator's death squads and enforcers. Our Special Forces
and Army paratroopers, working with Kurdish militia, have opened a
northern front against the enemy. Army and Marine divisions are
engaging the enemy and advancing to the outskirts of Baghdad.
(Applause.)
From the skies above, coalition aircraft and Cruise missiles are
removing hundreds of military targets from Iraq. A vice is closing,
and the days of a brutal regime are coming to an end. (Applause.)
Some servants of the regime have chosen to fill their final days
with acts of cowardice and murder. In combat, Saddam's thugs shield
themselves with women and children. They have killed Iraqi citizens
who welcome coalition troops. They force other Iraqis into battle, by
threatening to torture or kill their families. They've executed
prisoners of war. They've waged attacks under the white flag of
truce. They concealed combat forces in civilian neighborhoods and
schools and hospitals and mosques.
In this war, the Iraqi regime is doing -- is terrorizing its own
citizens, doing everything possible to maximize Iraqi civilian
casualties, and then to exploit the deaths they've caused for
propaganda. These are war criminals and they will be treated like war
criminals. (Applause.)
In stark contrast, the citizens of Iraq are coming to know what
kind of people we have sent to liberate them. American forces and our
allies are treating innocent civilians with kindness, and showing
proper respect to soldiers who surrender. Many Americans have seen the
picture of Marine Lance Corporal Marcco Ware carrying a wounded Iraqi
soldier on his shoulders to safety, for medical treatment. That's the
picture of the strength and goodness of the U.S. Marines. (Applause.)
That is a picture of America. (Applause.) People in the United States
are proud of the honorable conduct of our military, and I'm proud to
lead such brave and decent Americans. (Applause.)
I'm also proud that coalition victories are bringing food and water
and medicine to the Iraqi people. Our coalition partners have
constructed a pipeline to bring clean water to Umm Qasr. We're
delivering emergency rations to the hungry. Right now, ships carrying
enough American grain to feed millions are bound for Iraq. We're
bringing aid, and we're bringing something more -- we're bringing
hope. (Applause.)
A man in one Iraqi village said this to one of our soldiers: "I
want my freedom. I don't want food or water. I just want my
freedom." America hears that man. We hear all Iraqis who yearn for
liberty. And the people of Iraq have my pledge: Our fighting forces
will press on until your entire country is free. (Applause.)
The Iraqi people deserve to live in peace under leaders they have
chosen. They deserve a government that respects the rights of every
citizen and ethnic group. They deserve a country that is united,
that's independent, and that is released from years of sanctions and
sorrow. Our coalition has one goal for the future of Iraq -- to return
that great country to it's own people. (Applause.)
Building a free and prosperous Iraq after the regime is gone will
require -- will be the work of the Iraqi people for years to come. And
they will have our help. Today the goal is to remove the Iraqi regime
and to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. And that is the task
of the United States military and our coalition.
All who serve in this mission can know this: Your fellow citizens
are behind you and our government will give you every tool you need for
victory. (Applause.)
People of this country take pride in your victories, and we share
in your losses. Camp Lejeune has lost some good Marines. Every person
who dies in the line of duty leaves a family that lives in grief.
Every Marine who dies in the line of duty leaves comrades who mourn
their loss.
There is a tradition in the Corps that no one who falls will be
left behind on the battlefield. (Applause.) Our country has a
tradition, as well. No one who falls will be forgotten by this
grateful nation. We honor their service to America and we pray their
families will receive God's comfort and God's grace. (Applause.)
These are sacrifices in a high calling -- the defense of our nation
and the peace of the world. Overcoming evil is the noblest cause and
the hardest work. And the liberation of millions is the fulfillment of
America's founding promise. The objectives we've set in this war are
worthy of America, worthy of all the acts of heroism and generosity
that have come before.
Once again, we are applying the power of our country to ensure our
security and to serve the cause of justice. And we will prevail.
(Applause.)
Our Armed Services have performed brilliantly in Operation Iraqi
Freedom. Moving a massive force over 200 miles of enemy territory in a
matter of days is a superb achievement. Yet there is work ahead for
our coalition, for the American Armed Forces, and for the United States
Marines. Having traveled hundreds of miles, we will now go the last
200 yards. (Applause.) The course is set. We're on the advance. Our
destination is Baghdad, and we will accept nothing less than complete
and final victory. (Applause.)
May God bless our country and all who defend her. Semper fi.
(Applause.)
view
