For Immediate Release
January 19, 2005

Global Message

From written testimony by Secretary of State Nominee Rice in her Senate Foreign Relations Committee Confirmation Hearing 1/18/05

September 11th was a defining moment for our nation and the world. Under the vision and leadership of President Bush, our nation has risen to meet the challenges of our time: fighting tyranny and terror, and securing the blessings of freedom and prosperity for a new generation.

America stands with oppressed people on every continent, in Cuba, Burma, North Korea, Iran, Belarus, and Zimbabwe.

America cannot rest until every person living in a "fear society" has finally won their freedom.

In the Middle East, President Bush has broken with six decades of excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the hope of purchasing stability at the price of liberty. The stakes could not be higher.

As long as the broader Middle East remains a region of tyranny and despair and anger, it will produce extremists and movements that threaten the safety of Americans and its friends. But there are hopeful signs that freedom is on the march.

Afghanistan and Iraq are struggling to put terrible pasts behind them. Just months ago, Afghanistan held a free and fair election, and chose a president who is committed to the success of democracy and to the fight against terror. In Iraq, the people will soon take the next step in their journey toward full, genuine democracy.

The success of freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq will give strength and hope to reformers throughout the region, and accelerate the pace of reforms already under way.

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