White House Report, Nov. 24: Bush speech at Fort Carson, Colorado

President Bush, in remarks November 24 to cheering soldiers at Fort Carson, Colorado, praised them for their work against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq, saying that "units from this base have been vital to our campaigns" in both places.

These soldiers, he said, "have been called to serve in the first war of the 21st Century. This war began more than two years ago, on September the 11th, 2001, when America was attacked, and thousands of our fellow citizens were murdered.

"The events of that morning changed our nation. We awakened to new dangers and we accepted new responsibilities. That day we saw the harm that our enemies intend for us. And last week, we saw their cruelty again, in the murders in Istanbul. Today America, Britain and Turkey and all responsible nations are united in a great cause: We will not rest until we bring these committed killers to justice.

"These terrorists will not be stopped by negotiations, or by appeals to reason, or by the least hint of conscience. We have only one option: We must, and we will continue to take the fight to the enemy," Bush said.

Recently, in Operation Iron Hammer, "our coalition worked with the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and police to strike hard against the forces of murder and chaos," Bush said.

"We countered attacks, we seized weapons, we brought cold-blooded killers to justice. We're proud of all who participated in these forceful and successful operations. And we're sending a clear message: Anyone who seeks to harm our soldiers can know that our great soldiers are hunting for them," Bush said.

This community, Bush said, "knows firsthand that the mission in Iraq is difficult and the enemy is dangerous. Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists are attacking the symbols of order and freedom, from international aid workers to coalition forces to innocent Iraqi citizens. Terrorists have chosen to make a stand and test our resolve. Our resolve will not be shaken."

Bush also met privately with relatives of 26 Fort Carson soldiers who have died in Iraq since May 1.

Fort Carson has sent 12,000 troops to Iraq, its largest deployment since World War II, according to news reports.

Bush traveled to Colorado after signing at the Pentagon a $401.3 billion defense authorization bill. In remarks there, Bush said "America's military is standing between our country and grave danger. You're standing for order and hope and democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq. You're standing up for the security of all free nations, and for the advance of freedom."

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)