Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 / Sept. 7 the war on terror. With vigilance, deter- Sheikh Mohammed, senior Al Qaida leader mination, courage, we will defeat the en- responsible for planning the September 11, emies of freedom, and we will leave behind 2001, terrorist attacks, who was captured in a more peaceful world for our children and Pakistan on March 1, 2003; U.S. District our grandchildren. Court Judge for the Eastern District of God bless. Michigan Anna Diggs Taylor; Zacarias Moussaoui, an Al Qaida operative who was NOTE: The President spoke at 10:24 a.m. at sentenced on May 4 for helping to plan the the Cobb Galleria Center. In his remarks, September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; Presi- he referred to Gov. George E. ‘‘Sonny’’ dent Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan; Prime Perdue of Georgia; Brenda Fitzgerald, chair- Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq; and Ayman man, board of governors, Georgia Public Pol- Al-Zawahiri, founder of the Egyptian Islamic icy Foundation; Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore, Jihad and senior Al Qaida associate. He also USA, commanding general, First United referred to the National Commission on Ter- States Army; Usama bin Laden, leader of the rorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Al Qaida terrorist organization; Khalid Commission). Remarks at a Reception for Congressional Candidate Max Burns in Pooler, Georgia September 7, 2006 Thanks for coming. I want to thank you ference, I strongly suggest this part of the all for coming and joining me in supporting country. The G–8 was a great success, pri- my friend Max Burns to be the next Con- marily because of the beauty of the coast- gressman from this district. line and, more importantly, the warmth of Max, this is a good sign that so many the people here on the coastline. And so people would show up. [Laughter] And I we’re proud to be back in Savannah. This thank you for supporting him. I know him is good country with good people. And I’m quite well. See, as he mentioned, we have proud to be back, and I’m real proud to worked together before. He’s not an un- be supporting Max. known quantity. You don’t have to guess Today I’m traveling from Atlanta, where about his political philosophy. You don’t I gave a speech, the third of three speeches have to worry about whether he will do on what we’re doing to secure this country, the right thing. Max Burns is a man who and I traveled over on Air Force One with is the right man to represent the 12th Con- a man who is doing a fabulous job as the gressional District for the State of Georgia. Governor of an important State, and that’s And I want to thank you for giving him Governor Sonny Perdue. Sonny, thanks for this strong support. coming. He’s a straightforward fellow. He’s Max not—I not only think Max is the right guy, but so does Laura. [Laughter] the kind of guy, frankly, that the Texas She sends her love to the Burns family, voters would be comfortable with. [Laugh- to Lora and Max. She sends her thanks ter] He’s no-nonsense. He’s down-to-earth. to all of you. And she reminded me to What you see is what you get. And even remind—to thank you for the fantastic ex- though he didn’t ask, I do want to remind perience we had down here in 2004. If you to support him for his reelection. He you ever want to host an international con- deserves it. 1629 VerDate Mar 15 2010 10:45 Oct 01, 2010 Jkt 211655 PO 00000 Frm 00317 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\211655A.010 211655A rmajette on DSK29S0YB1PROD with HEARING Sept. 7 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 Max is going to be working with a really writing a check; I believe you owe him important and a very fine senatorial group putting up those signs. That’s what I be- of folks from Georgia. I know firsthand be- lieve. I believe you owe him time, if you cause I work with them all the time. This don’t mind me saying so. He’s counting State has done a very smart thing in send- on it, and so am I. It’s important to have ing Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson good, strong, decent, honorable people like to the United States Senate. I’m proud Max Burns representing you in the United they’re here, and I thank them for coming. States Congress. I’m looking forward to getting my in- I want to thank Mike Wiggins, the can- structions on Air Force One flying back didate for the Georgia Supreme Court. I to Washington. [Laughter] They’re not shy appreciate you being here, Mike. about telling me what’s on their mind, and And finally, I can’t—I want to thank the it usually starts with, ‘‘Here’s what’s best original members of the Mighty Eighth Air for Georgia.’’ Force. I want to thank the museum direc- I’m proud to be here with Eric Johnson, tor. This is a spectacular facility, and we’re president pro tem of the Georgia State grateful that we could use it. Senate. Thanks for coming, senator. These are historic times in which we live. Tommie Williams, who is the majority lead- These are—and that’s why it’s important er of the Georgia State Senate, is with us. to have people in the Congress who clearly Senator, thank you for coming as well. see the challenges this Nation faces. We I know Max appreciates the statehouse are a nation at war. I can’t tell you how people supporting him. I know he is proud much I wish I could come to Savannah, to have the support of those who run for Georgia, and say we weren’t at war. I wish office themselves. It’s a good sign. When I could report that to you, but I can’t. people have been out there knocking on It should have been clear to the Amer- doors saying, ‘‘I’m for this man for Con- ican people that we’re still under threat gress,’’ they know what the grassroots are when a couple of weeks ago, working with thinking; they know what the people want. Great Britain, we uncovered yet another The people want Max Burns to return to plot. People were going to get on airplanes the United States Congress, and so do I. bound for the United States and destroy Swainsboro mayor, Mayor Charles them because they can’t stand what we be- Schwabe is with us today. Mayor, thank lieve. We’re facing ideologues. you for coming. I appreciate Karen Handel, In other words, these are people that who’s the candidate for secretary of state, have a belief system. The best way to un- joining us today. Perry McGuire, the can- derstand the belief system they have is to didate for the attorney general for the State think opposite of what we believe. We be- of Georgia, is with us as well. Brent Brown lieve in the freedom of people to worship. and Gary Black—they’re colorful char- See, you’re equally American if you’re acters—[laughter]—running for the labor Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, agnostic, commissioner and agriculture commis- whatever. You’re equally American. You sioner. have the right to choose. The people that I appreciate—let me just say this—I ap- face us, the radicals and extremists who preciate all of you running statewide. It’s attack us, believe you ought to worship one hard work. I know you want me to say way, the way they believe, or else you’re this—these folks need your help too. It’s condemned. We believe in people being not easy to be a candidate; it just isn’t. able to express themselves in the public And when you find somebody as honest square. We believe in dissent. We believe as Max, who’s willing to step up there and in the freedom of the press. We believe run, I believe you owe him more than just in freedom, and they don’t. 1630 VerDate Mar 15 2010 10:45 Oct 01, 2010 Jkt 211655 PO 00000 Frm 00318 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\211655A.010 211655A rmajette on DSK29S0YB1PROD with HEARING Administration of George W. Bush, 2006 / Sept. 7 I will be in New York City and in Penn- A lesson of September the 11th, an im- sylvania and at the Pentagon next Monday portant lesson for the President and Mem- with Laura. It is a day for us to remember bers of Congress and people of the United the sorrow and the horror of that day. It’s States is that when we see a threat, we a day for us to remember the incredible must take the threat seriously before they bravery of first-responders who were willing come to the United States and hurt us. to rush into danger to save life. It’s a day I saw a threat in Iraq. I not only saw the to remember those on the airplane that threat; nations around the world saw the drove that airplane into the ground, which threat. Republicans and Democrats in the was the first victory in the war on terror. United States Congress saw the same And it’s also a day to remember the les- threat.