Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 / Aug. 31

Remarks at a Reception for Senatorial Candidate Orrin G. Hatch in Salt Lake City August 31, 2006

Thank you all very much. Thank you all. distorted—[laughter]—please send Orrin Please be seated. Thanks for the warm wel- Hatch back to the United States Senate. come. It’s great to be here in Utah. Gosh, I want to thank the Governor and Mary I landed at the airport last night—a couple Kaye for joining us. I appreciate you all of thousand people out there to say hello. taking time to come to support the senior I just had the honor of speaking to the Senator from the State of Utah. It’s smart American Legion; then come to a hall filled politics. [Laughter] You’re doing a fine job, with great citizens concerned about the re- and the people of Utah are proud of you. election of Orrin Hatch. I’m telling—here I want to thank the other Senator, Sen- to tell you, this guy is doing a great job ator Bob Bennett, for his courageous lead- and you need to send him back to the ership and friendship. I want to thank Con- United States Senate. gressman Rob Bishop and Congressman I’m proud to call him friend. And he’s Chris Cannon for joining us today and for an effective person in Washington. I don’t serving the country. Glad you all are here. Cannon’s brother is the chairman of the know if you can tell it this far away from Republican Party. I like to remind the Washington, but he’s effective. He gets chairman that he’s the cuter Cannon. things done. People like to hear him; they [Laughter] Is that okay? No. [Laughter] listen to him; they trust him; they trust I want to thank all the statehouse folks his judgment. And so do I. And every time who’ve joined us today too. I appreciate I’m around Orrin Hatch, after he gets John Valentine who is the senate presi- through talking about Utah, he finally gets dent—leader, and Greg Curtis, the speaker. to the country. [Laughter] In other words, I want to thank all of you who are senators he loves Utah, and he loves the citizens and representatives. I appreciate you serv- of Utah. ing your communities. I had—some of the And he married well. We’re proud to greatest experiences I’ve ever had in poli- be here with Elaine and the Hatch family. tics—was working with our State senate Laura said to me, she said, ‘‘You get over and our house of representatives in the to Utah, and you help our friends come State of Texas. And I hope, Governor, back to Washington, DC.’’ She sends her you’re having as much fun working with love. I married well, just like Orrin married them as I had. And if not, just keep telling well. It helps to have somebody you love them what to do, and eventually they’ll get stand by your side when you’re in politics. the message. [Laughter] But thank you all There’s nothing better than having a person for serving. that you care deeply about and—to share I appreciate all the local folks here. I the experience. And that’s the way the particularly want to say thanks to former Hatchs have been, and they’ve served a Senator Jake Garn, who is with us. Senator, great example for a lot of younger political good to see you. I appreciate you coming. families. And thank you for having the right And I see my friend Jim Hansen is with priorities, faith and your family and your us today. Congressman, good to see you, friends. thanks for being here. And I wish LaVar And so I’ve come to say as best as I Christensen all the best in his run for the can and in as plain English as I can pos- congressional seat here in Utah. Good luck sibly speak—which sometimes gets a little to you. Appreciate you.

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And most of all, thanks for helping Orrin. But it’s important to understand the na- It takes a lot of work to get this many ture of this war. This is more than just people in the room. And for those of you a military conflict. This is the decisive ideo- who organized this event, thank you. I logical struggle of the 21st century. Some know how hard you worked, and so does would like to assign this war to something he. This is an incredibly successful fund- as simple as law enforcement. That shows raiser, and he deserves it. a lack of understanding of the nature of And for those of you involved in grass- the enemy. Law enforcement means we roots politics, thanks a lot for your hard wouldn’t use all assets at our disposal to work. Thanks for making sure that Utah protect the American people. This is an was solid in 2004, and thank you for mak- ideological struggle, and it’s the struggle of ing sure that Utah remains solid in 2006. the century. And it’s the struggle in which I appreciate you putting up the signs. I we must prevail for the sake of our children appreciate you making the phone calls. I and our grandchildren. appreciate you knocking on the doors. On the one side of this struggle are those A lot of times, people kind of forget the who believe in freedom and moderation, efforts you make, but I don’t, and I know the right of people to speak, the right of Orrin doesn’t. I know the Governor appre- people to worship freely—one of the great ciates all the grassroots activists. So thanks privileges in America, isn’t it? I’m proud for the good work you’re doing here in as the President to be able to say you’re the great State of Utah. equally American if you’re Jew, Muslim, These are historic times in which we’re Christian, agnostic, atheist; we’re all equally living. This generation of ours is being chal- American. And one of the great treasured lenged, and it’s a tough challenge because rights of our society is for people to be we’re facing an enemy that knows no able to worship freely. bounds of decency, an enemy that uses tac- On this struggle are those who believe tics that are beyond our imagination to in the universality of liberty. I personally achieve certain objectives. The President believe there’s an Almighty, and I believe has to make a lot of decisions. Mine is that one of the great gifts of that Almighty a decisionmaking experience. And I just to every man, woman, and child on the want you to know that a lot of the decisions face of the Earth is the desire to live in I have made were based upon the experi- freedom. ences of the attacks on September the And on the other side of this ideological 11th. See, I vowed that day that I would struggle are those who are driven by tyr- never forget our most important duty in anny and extremism, the right of a self- Washington, DC, is to protect the Amer- appointed few to impose their fanatical ican people. views over the rest of us. And that’s the And Orrin Hatch understands that. He struggle. And it’s important that our fellow is a strong supporter of our strategy to de- citizens understand that struggle. fend the country. That strategy starts with We didn’t ask for this war, but we will understanding this doctrine: One, you can’t answer history’s call with confidence. And rationalize with these people; you cannot it’s important to have Members of the negotiate with these extremists, these ter- United States Senate who understand the rorists, these people who are bound to- call of history and are willing to stand gether by an ideology that is hateful. The strong in the face of an enemy who is re- only way to protect the American people lenting. That’s the challenge of the 21st is to stay on the offense and defeat them century. overseas so we do not have to face them As I told you, we’ll stay on the offense. here at home. As well, I made it clear that if you harbor

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a terrorist, you’re just as guilty as the ter- when the world spoke through the United rorists, and you’re an enemy of the United Nations, ignored the world. I think when States, and you will be held to account. the world speaks, it must mean what it In other words, this is a war in which na- says. And so we gave the tyrant one last tion-states aren’t necessarily in the league, chance to disclose and disarm, or face seri- as previous wars, in, but they provide safe ous consequences. It was his choice to haven for. It’s important when the Presi- make. The world is safer, the Iraqi people dent speaks, he means what he says. I are better, the cause for liberty is more spoke clearly to the world that if you har- advanced because Saddam Hussein is no bor a terrorist, you’re equally as guilty as longer in power. the terrorists. The Taliban didn’t take our Iraq is the central front in the war on word seriously. And thanks to a fantastic terror. Usama bin Laden has made that United States military, along with allies, we clear. Zawahiri has made that clear; he’s removed the Taliban. We upheld doctrine, the number-two man in Al Qaida. Their we freed 25 million Afghan citizens, and mission is to drive us out of Iraq in order the world is better off. to achieve safe haven, safe haven from A lesson of September the 11th is that which to launch further attacks against when this Nation sees a threat, we must moderate elements in the Middle East, safe take it seriously, before it fully materializes. haven from which to plan and plot attacks If there is a threat, we must recognize that against the United States of America. threat and deal with it before it comes They’re not going to succeed. home to hurt us. You know, the tendency There are powerful forces inside Iraq in any difficult situation is for some to want that to me—causes me to be optimistic, to forget the lessons, put the past behind starting with the Iraqi people themselves. and think about a more comforting future. You know, last December seems like an And I can understand that. As a matter eternity, particularly to those of us in polit- of fact, part of my job is to assure the ical office. But that’s not too long in the American people that we understand the march of history, is it? Last December, 12 threat and that people should go on about million Iraqis, in defiance of terrorists and their lives. Let us worry about it. That’s killers and suicide bombers, said loud and why I’ve asked to make sure we have all clear, ‘‘We want to be free. We want a the tools necessary to protect the American government of, by, and for the people.’’ people, tools like the PATRIOT Act, which And since then, under a constitution that Orrin helped get passed, tools like the ca- is one of the most modern constitutions pacity to listen to an Al Qaida phone call. ever in the Middle East, a unity govern- If they’re calling into the United States, ment has formed, a government desirous we want to know why so we can protect of responding to the people, a government the American people. working hard to reject the extremists who I saw a threat in Iraq. As a matter of want to stop the advance of democracy and fact, members of both political parties in freedom. This is a tough war. It’s a tough the United States Congress saw the same war because the enemy will use any tactic threat. Nations around the world saw the to cause the Iraqis to split apart or any threat. And the threat was a tyrant who tactic trying to drive the United States out brutally murdered thousands of his own of the Middle East. We must persevere. citizens; a tyrant who had invaded his We must continue to work with this demo- neighbors; a tyrant who had used weapons cratically elected Government of Iraq. We of mass destruction on his people; a tyrant must continue to give their army the skills who previous administrations had declared necessary to fight. And we must stay on a state sponsor of terror; a tyrant who, the hunt for terrorist elements, which we

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are doing. We’ll succeed in Iraq, and when job is done. That’s what I believe. I’m mak- we do, this country will be more secure. ing my decisions based upon the rec- I understand there’s a debate, and, of ommendations of commanders on the course, there should be a debate. I mean, ground. I want to assure you, polls and I welcome debates in our society. One of focus groups will not decide the Iraq policy the great things about America is, people in the global war on terror. And when we can go into the public square and express win and when we achieve our stated objec- themselves openly without fear of the state. tive, it will be a major defeat for the terror- That’s what we welcome. In these 2006 ists in this global war on terror. It will campaigns, there will be a lot of debate. strengthen the spread of democracy in the There will be people—good people, decent Middle East. Imagine what the example of people, patriotic people—who say, ‘‘Now is a democratic Iraq, a country that has adopt- the time to leave Iraq,’’ and they are ed a democracy based upon its history and wrong. its traditions, imagine the signal it will send If we leave before Iraq can defend itself to those reformers in Iran or those hopeful and govern itself and sustain itself, this will Palestinians that say, ‘‘Someday, we want be a key defeat for the United States of a state to live in peace with our neighbor America in this ideological struggle of the Israel.’’ When we succeed in Iraq, we’ll 21st century. If we leave before this young have created a valuable ally in the global democracy has its roots firmly in place, so war on terror. that an example of liberty flourishes in a I don’t know if you remember this, but region that’s so desperate for something recently I had the honor of and privilege other than a society that’s caused resent- of taking my friend the Prime Minister of ment and hopelessness, if we leave, it will Japan to Graceland, Elvis’s place. [Laugh- embolden the enemy. The enemy has said ter] I’ve never been to Graceland. I this is the front in the war on terror. That’s thought it would be fun to go, but more what they have proclaimed. They’ll become importantly, he wanted to go. See, he was even more bold. If we leave before the an Elvis buff. [Laughter] I also thought it job is done, we’ll help create a terrorist would send an interesting message that I state in the heart of the Middle East that hope helps explain the stakes of this ideo- will have control of huge oil reserves. If logical struggle we’re in. Can you imagine we leave before the job is done, this coun- somebody after World War II saying, ‘‘I try will have no credibility. People will look predict one day an American President will at our words as empty words. People will be going to a singer’s home with the Prime not trust the judgment and the leadership Minister of Japan?’’ They’d have thought of the United States. Reformers will shrink the guy was off his rocker. Isn’t it inter- from their deep desire to live in a free esting that a son of a Navy torpedo fighter society. Moderates will wonder if their who fought the Japanese with all his soul voice will ever be heard again. If we leave and all his might, like many of your rel- before the job will be done, those who atives did, flew down on Air Force One sacrificed, those brave volunteers who sac- with the Prime Minister of the former rificed in our United States military will enemy? I think it is. And I think it’s an have died in vain. And as General Abizaid historical lesson that we all can learn some- has said, if we leave before the job is done, thing about. if we leave the streets of Baghdad, the And by the way, when we were on the enemy will follow us to our own streets plane, guess what we talked about—how in America. we can work together to keep the peace. The stakes are high. I believe the only We talked about North Korea. We talked way we can lose is if we leave before the about what it meant for Japan to send

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1,000 troops into Iraq to help this young ernor, congratulations, is 3.4 percent. Peo- democracy fight off the ideologues of hate. ple are working. Productivity is high. That’s We talked about our HIV/AIDS initiative good; we’re a productive society. We’re in Africa. We talked about building roads constantly trying to improve. Entrepreneur- in Afghanistan. I found it incredibly inter- ship is strong. Minorities are owning busi- esting that I was able to sit down with nesses. Homeownership has been high. I the Prime Minister of a former enemy and mean, this is a productive period of time talk about the peace. Something happened for the American people. It’s because our between 41’s time in the U.S. Navy and philosophy works; cutting taxes, trusting 43’s time talking with the Prime Minister people with their own money makes sense. of Japan. Japan adopted a Japanese-style And you know what else happens? It in- democracy. creases revenues for the Treasury. You Liberty has the capacity to transform en- know, there’s been a lot of talk about the emies into allies. One of these days, Amer- deficits, and there should be. We’re con- ican Presidents will be sitting down with cerned about the deficit. As a matter of duly elected leaders of the Middle East, fact, I said to the Congress, join us in being and they will be talking about keeping the fiscally responsible about how we spend the peace. And this generation will be able to people’s money, and we can cut that deficit. say, the world was safer for our children The deficit is going to be cut in half, not and grandchildren. by 2009 but by 2008, because progrowth And this Senator understands the stakes, economic policies work. The best way—and and I’m proud to serve with him. Both by the way, in Washington, you’ll hear of us are honored to be able to say, we’re them say, ‘‘Well, in order to balance the laying the foundation of peace for genera- budget, we need to raise more revenues.’’ tions to come. But that’s not the way it works in Wash- He also understands this, that the more ington. Yeah, they’ll raise revenues; they’ll money you have in your pocket, the more increase your taxes; but they will figure out you’re going to save, invest, and spend, and new ways to spend your money. The best the better our economy does. The classic way to balance the budget is to keep taxes debate in Washington, DC, really centers low and be fiscally responsible with the tax- around this: Who best to spend your payers’ money. And that’s what we’re doing. money, you or the Government? Senator Orrin said, ‘‘Keep it short.’’ I obviously Hatch and I believe you can spend it better didn’t listen very carefully. I want to work than the Government, and therefore, we with him to make sure this country be- strongly believe—[applause]. And that’s comes less dependent on foreign sources why, when things got tough, economically of oil. It’s in our economic interests that tough, we cut the taxes on everybody who we become less dependent on foreign paid taxes. And it worked. This economy sources of oil, and it is in our national of ours is strong. Progrowth economic poli- security interests. And so therefore, we will cies work. And the way to make sure this continue to spend money wisely on new economy remains strong is to make the tax technologies. relief we passed a permanent part of the We’re big believers in the nuclear power Tax Code. industry’s capacity to make sure that we The unemployment rate is 4.8 percent. protect the environment with renewable Since August of 2005, we’ve created more sources of energy. I see automobiles being than 5.5 million new jobs. Productivity is driven by batteries that can drive the first high. The economy has grown now for 35 40 miles on electricity. I know we got clean straight months. It has added jobs for 35 coal technologies that will eventually work. straight—your unemployment rate, Gov- It’s the calling of our time to make sure

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that we do smart things with your money see him again, tell him to get back to work. to enable us to diversify away from oil from [Laughter] countries, particularly those countries that Finally, I want to say something about don’t like us. I look forward to working the judiciary. I’ve had no stronger ally than with Orrin to make sure that we remain Orrin Hatch in making sure that we ap- competitive by spending money, wisely point judges who know the difference be- spending money on research and develop- tween being a judge and a legislator. One ment both at the Federal level and at the of my most important responsibilities is to private level, which is why we need to make sure we have people on the Federal make permanent the research and develop- bench who strictly interpret the Constitu- ment tax credit. tion and not use the bench from which I look forward to working with Orrin and to legislate. And I had the honor of naming other Members of the United States Senate two members of the Supreme Court—and to once and for all do something about I took my time, and I looked at a lot of junk lawsuits, particularly those that are good folks, and I came up with some fine running good doctors out of practice. Peo- names. And thanks to the support and lead- ple worry about the cost of health care. ership of Senator Orrin Hatch, Chief Jus- One way to deal with the cost of health tice John Roberts and Justice Sam Alito care is to get rid of these junk lawsuits. now sit on the bench, and the United States is better off for it. It’s one thing, if you got a problem, to He just told me, if I didn’t end, he’s have your day in court. But these junk law- going to make me listen to one of his songs. suits—you see, when I first got to Wash- [Laughter] Actually, the man has got some ington, I said, ‘‘Well, the States can figure talent. [Laughter] And he’s a great song- it out.’’ Governor, you know, you all write writer but not as good a Senator—as he your own laws. And then I realized the is a Senator. And that’s saying a lot. You’ve defensive practice of medicine costs you, got a fine man in the United States Senate the taxpayers, about $28 billion a year. in Orrin Hatch. He’s decent; he’s honor- Docs and providers providing unnecessary able; he gets the job done. I thank you services in order to defend themselves for supporting him. Send him back to against junk lawsuits cost the Federal Gov- Washington, and Utah and America will ernment—because of Medicaid, Medicare, benefit—continue to benefit from his serv- and veterans health benefits—about 28 bil- ice. lion. I came to the conclusion, therefore, I thank you for the warm welcome here. this is a Federal problem that requires a It’s been such a joy to come back to your Federal solution. beautiful State. May God bless you all. Congress passed—the House passed a good piece of legislation. I’m going to con- NOTE: The President spoke at 11 a.m. at the tinue to work with Senators Hatch and Grand America Hotel. In his remarks, he re- Bennett to get good legislation out of the ferred to Gov. Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., of United States Senate to make sure health Utah, and his wife, Mary Kaye; Joseph A. care is available and affordable for folks Cannon, chairman, Utah Republican Party; all across the United States of America. LaVar Christensen, candidate for Congress And speaking about health care, you did in Utah’s Second Congressional District; a fine job of training my Secretary for former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Health and Human Services, Leavitt. He’s Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaida ter- doing a great job. He really is. And he rorist organization; Ayman Al-Zawahiri, said he’s down there—somebody said he founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and was fishing with him recently. So when you senior Al Qaida associate; Gen. John P.

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Abizaid, USA, commander, U.S. Central Command; and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.

Message on the Observance of Labor Day September 1, 2006

I send greetings to those celebrating will continue to work toward developing Labor Day 2006. sound economic polices that keep our econ- America is the most innovative Nation omy moving forward and create more jobs in the world because our free enterprise for American workers. system unleashes the talent and creativity Each year on Labor Day, we recognize of our people. American workers are vital the dedicated men and women of our Na- to our Nation’s economic prosperity, and tion’s workforce. By working hard each day, they help us confront the competitive chal- these highly-skilled individuals build better lenges of the global marketplace. lives for themselves and their families and My Administration remains committed to make America stronger. fostering an environment where innovation Laura and I send our best wishes on succeeds and opportunity thrives. Since Au- this special occasion. gust 2003, our economy has created more than 5.7 million jobs, and manufacturing GEORGE W. BUSH production has risen 5.6 percent in the last year. Our economic expansion is lifting the NOTE: An original was not available for lives of millions of our citizens, and we verification of the content of this message.

The President’s Radio Address September 2, 2006

Good morning. This week, I spoke to side are those driven by tyranny and extre- the American Legion in Salt Lake City. I mism—the right of a self-appointed few to thanked the military veterans for their life- impose their fanatical views on all the rest. time of service to our country. And I gave We did not ask for this war, but we’re them an update on the war that America answering history’s call with confidence, is now fighting in defense of freedom in and we will prevail. our time. We are using every element of national We’re approaching the fifth anniversary power to defeat the terrorists. First, we’re of the September the 11th attacks, and staying on the offense against the terrorists, since that day, we have taken the fight to fighting them overseas so we do not have the enemy. Yet this war is more than a to face them here at home. Second, we military conflict; it is the decisive ideolog- made it clear to all nations, if you harbor ical struggle of the 21st century. On one terrorists, you’re as guilty as the terrorists; side are those who believe in freedom and you’re an enemy of the United States, and moderation, the right of all people to speak, you will be held to account. And third, worship, and live in liberty. On the other we have launched a bold new agenda to

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