Remarks Following a Meeting with Organizations That Support the United States Military in Iraq and Afghanistan October 20, 2006

Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 / Oct. 20

Remarks Following a Meeting With Organizations That Support the United States Military in Iraq and Afghanistan October 20, 2006

I’ve had an uplifting and heartwarming school. It’s a remarkable country when we conversation with fellow citizens of all ages have people who decide to step up and from across our country who are supporting help men and women who are serving their our troops. These folks don’t really care country in a time of need. about politics. What they care about is how And I want to thank you all for coming, best to send a strong message to the men and I appreciate what you’re doing. and women who wear our uniform that Americasupportsyou.mil is a web site where America supports them. our fellow citizens can volunteer to help. And so we’ve had examples of people You can become a part of a group and who started web pages to get different sup- find out ways that you can support our plies to send to troops who are—who need men and women in uniform. These are a care package; to a woman who started brave, courageous people who deserve the a group of people to sew garments to help full support of the American citizenry. the wounded recover faster; to a guy who So I want to thank you all for coming. helped start video conferencing capabilities I appreciate you being here. Thanks very so that loved ones can share big moments much. in their lives together, even though one is in combat; to a child who started treasure NOTE: The President spoke at 2:35 p.m. in hunts to raise money to help kids go to the Roosevelt Room at the White House.

Remarks at a National Italian American Foundation Dinner October 20, 2006

Ian [Ken], * thank you for that kind in- But thanks for letting me come by to troduction. But what you forgot to tell the say hello. I’m honored to be with you. I people was that my mother said, ‘‘Listen, love to pay homage to the Italian Ameri- son, I know you’re going to be going over cans that have made our country so great. there this evening. Remember your father And that’s precisely what you do. The Na- has already spoken, so keep your remarks tional Italian American Foundation is an short.’’ [Laughter] important organization because it reminds I thank you for your kind words about people of the great Italian heritage of many my mother and father. I am real proud of our citizens. It also heralds the great they’re with you today. He is a remarkable diversity of our country. So thanks for what guy and—[applause]. The only mistake you you’re doing. Thanks for letting me come made was not to insist that Laura spoke by to say hello. instead of me. [Laughter] She’s doing great. I’m honored to be here with the She said, ‘‘Look, you keep it short too, be- Ambassador from the great country of Italy. cause the food is on the table.’’ [Laughter] Mr. Ambassador, it’s good to see you, sir. I am proud to say that Italy is a strong ally of the United States of America. * White House correction.

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I see we’ve got some of the third branch the White House, and that’s Peter Pace. of Government with us, Justice Scalia and Peter ‘‘Pac’’—[laughter]—four-star general Justice Alito. Thank you all for being here. in the United States Marine Corps, Chair- I know that you are paying Alito an honor, man of the Joint Chiefs. The reason I bring and I tell you, he paid this country an him up and the reason I’m meeting with honor by agreeing to serve on the Supreme him—first, there’s no finer American than Court of the United States. I make a lot Peter Pace. He’s an outstanding American, of decisions as your President, and one of an outstanding Italian American. the finest decisions I made was to ask this I bring it up because we are in a titanic man to serve. struggle between extremists and radicals And I understand you’re honoring who cannot stand the way of life of Amer- Frankie Valli. Sorry I’m not going to be ica. They don’t like the thought that people around to hear you, but rest assured, I’ve from different backgrounds are able to live heard plenty of you when I was growing under a nation and work together and up. [Laughter] Congratulations to both you achieve greatness. They can’t stand the men. You picked fine winners here. Thanks thought of free societies flourishing in their for letting me come and pay homage to midst. them as well. And generations of Italian Americans be- I’m proud to be with Secchia—Peter fore this generation have served with such Secchia. See, he picks up the phone, calls valor to make sure freedom still stands, and the Oval Office, and says, ‘‘Man, you’re the now another generation of Americans is only sitting President who’s never come to challenged. There are many Italian Ameri- this organization.’’ He said, ‘‘You better get cans who wear our uniform today, brave over here tonight.’’ [Laughter] I said, ‘‘All men and women who have volunteered in right, Secchia.’’ But I’m proud to call you the great challenge of the 21st century, friend. which is to protect our country from ter- You know, the story of this country is rorist attack and, at the same time, spread a story of immigrants, and we’ve always the great blessings of liberty so that a gen- got to remember that. And some of the eration of Americans can grow up in peace. greatest stories of our country are the result Taking the inspiration of those who have of your ancestors who came to America come before us, there’s no doubt in my and realized the big dream of our country. mind that this generation of Americans will And what this country must always do is succeed. We won’t falter in the face of be a land of dreamers and doers, is to danger. We’ll be steadfast in our resolve reward hard work and honor faith and fam- to protect you. We will be confident in ily. And the Italian Americans inspire that the power of liberty to transform hostile greatness of America every day through regions into hopeful regions. And when we your acts of kindness and generosity and persevere, someday somebody will step up through your contributions to the country. here to this mike, years from now, and You know, the list of Italian Americans say, ‘‘Thank goodness a generation of that have made a significant contribution Americans did their duty for the sake of to our country is long. I mean, Tommy the security of the United States and the Lasorda, Yogi Berra, and for you Colt 45 peace of the world.’’ fans—that’s the old Houston baseball So I come before you with a lot on my team—‘‘Hollywood’’ Kenny Aspromonte. mind. But one of the things that’s on my Where are you, Aspro? Yes, sir. mind is how grateful I am to be the Presi- I’m sorry tonight that one outstanding dent of such a fabulous country, a country Italian American can’t join you, but he’ll full of spirited, entrepreneurial, decent, be joining me tomorrow at a meeting in compassionate people.

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I hope you enjoy your evening tonight. of directors, National Italian American Foun- Thanks for letting me come by. God bless dation; Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S. you. God bless America. Giovanni Castellaneta; entertainer Frankie Valli; former U.S. Ambassador to Italy Peter NOTE: The President spoke at 7:43 p.m. at F. Secchia; and baseball Hall of Famers the Washington Hilton. In his remarks, he Tommy Lasorda and Yogi Berra. A tape was referred to A. Kenneth Ciongoli, chairman, not available for verification of the content and Ken Aspromonte, member of the board of these remarks.

The President’s Radio Address October 21, 2006

Good morning. Earlier this week, I spoke us to be flexible and to adapt to changing with Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq. We circumstances. We’ve changed the way we discussed the recent increase in violence train the Iraqi security forces. We have in his country. Attacks have grown signifi- changed the way we deliver reconstruction cantly during the first weeks of the Muslim assistance in areas that have been cleared holy month of Ramadan. of terrorist influence. And we will continue There are a number of reasons for this to be flexible and make every necessary increase in violence. One reason is that coa- change to prevail in this struggle. lition and Iraqi forces have been con- Iraq’s new leaders are beginning to take ducting focused operations to bring security the difficult steps necessary to defeat the to Baghdad. Side by side, Iraqi and Amer- terrorists and unite their country. The ican forces are operating in the city’s most Prime Minister recently met with tribal violent areas to disrupt Al Qaida, capture leaders from Anbar Province, who told him enemy fighters, crack down on IED mak- they are ready to stand up and fight the ers, and break up death squads. As we en- terrorists. He’s also taken action to clean gage our enemies in their stronghold, these up the Iraqi National Police. His govern- enemies are putting up a tough fight. In ment suspended a National Police unit a briefing in Iraq on Thursday, General after allegations that some of its members William Caldwell said the operation to se- were linked to militias and death squads. cure Baghdad has ‘‘not met our overall ex- A battalion commander was arrested for pectations.’’ He also explained, ‘‘It’s no co- incidence that the surge in attacks against possible complicity in sectarian deaths. And coalition forces coincides with our increased earlier this week, two of Iraq’s most senior presence in the streets in Baghdad.’’ police commanders were reassigned as part Our goal in Iraq is clear and unchanging: of a major restructuring of the national po- Our goal is victory. What is changing are lice force. the tactics we use to achieve that goal. Our Another reason for the recent increase commanders on the ground are constantly in attacks is that the terrorists are trying adjusting their approach to stay ahead of to influence public opinion here in the the enemy, particularly in Baghdad. Gen- United States. They have a sophisticated eral Pete Pace, the Chairman of the Joint propaganda strategy. They know they can- Chiefs, recently put it this way: ‘‘From a not defeat us in the battle, so they conduct military standpoint, every day is a reassess- high-profile attacks, hoping that the images ment day.’’ We have a strategy that allows of violence will demoralize our country and

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