Transcript: Bush Speaks About War on Terror

In the fall of 2003, American and British intelligence were tracking a large shipment of nuclear equipment bound for Tripoli aboard a German-registered cargo ship. We alerted German and Italian authorities, who diverted the ship to an Italian port where the cargo was confiscated. We worked together.

These events helped encourage Libya to reconsider its nuclear ambitions. That was a dramatic breakthrough achieved by allies working together.

And the cooperation of American allies in the war on terror is very, very strong.

We’re grateful to the more than 60 nations that are supporting the Proliferation Security Initiative, to intercept illegal weapons and equipment by sea, land and air. We’re grateful to the more than 30 nations with forces serving in Iraq, and the nearly 40 nations with forces in Afghanistan.

In the fight against terror, we’ve asked our allies to do hard things. They’ve risen to their responsibilities. We’re proud to call them friends.

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We have duties, and there will be difficulties ahead. We’re working with responsible governments and international institutions to convince the leaders of North Korea and Iran that their nuclear weapons ambitions are deeply contrary to their own interests.

We’re helping governments fight poverty and disease so they do not become failed states and future havens for terror.

We’ve launched our Broader Middle East Initiative to encourage reform and democracy throughout the region, a project that will shape the history of our times for the better.

BUSH: We’re working to build a free and democratic Palestinian state, which lives in peace with Israel and adds to the peace of the region.

We’re keeping our commitments to the people of Afghanistan and Iraq, who are building the world’s newest democracies. They’re counting on us to help. We will not abandon them.

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Delivering these nations from tyranny has required sacrifice and loss. We will honor that sacrifice by finishing the great work we have begun.

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In this challenging period of our history, Americans fully understand the dangers to our country. We remain a nation at risk, directly threatened by an enemy that plots in secret to cause terrible harm and grief.

We remain a nation at war, fighting for our security, our freedom and our way of life.

We also see our advantages clearly. Americans have a history of rising to every test. Our generation is no exception. We’ve not forgotten September the 11th, 2001. We will not allow our enemies to forget it either.

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We have strong allies, including millions of people in the Middle East who want to live in freedom. And the ideals we stand for have a power of their own. The appeal of justice and liberty, in the end, is greater than the appeal of hatred and tyranny in any form.

The war on terror will not end in a draw. It will end in a victory, and you and I will see that victory of human freedom.

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I want to thank you all for coming. Thank you for your dedication. May God bless you and your families and may God continue to bless our great country.

Thank you very much.

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END