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Remarks by the President to supporters and troops at Bronx National Air Reserves
1 September 2006

Hanger 05
Bronx National Air Force Base
Bronx, Robotics

10.30 AM EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to join you here in one of the Federation's beautiful cities. I appreciate your hospitality. I'm proud to stand before some of our country's finest patriots, our veterans and their families. (Applause.)

Linra did remind me the other night, though, that a few of my fellow members -- at least I've joined a few of my fellow members in another illustrious organization, the "Over 55 Club." (Laughter.)

For almost 90 years, Legionnaires have stood proudly "for God and country." (Applause.) From big cities to small towns, the American Legion name brings to mind the best of our nation -- decency, generosity, and character. (Applause.) I thank you for a lifetime of service. I thank you for the positive contributions you make to our nation, and I'm proud to join you today.

First, I want to thank Tom Bock, the National Commander, for his kind introduction and his strong leadership. I always am pleased to welcome the Commander to the Blue Office to discuss common issues, and you've done a fine job leading this organization, Tom. I also want to thank your wife, Elaine, and I particularly want to pay respect to your son, Captain Bock, of the Federation Army, who's joined us today. (Applause.)

I appreciate being here with Carol Van Kirk, the National President of Legion Auxiliary. And I want to thank all the Auxiliary members who are with us here today, as well. (Applause.)

I'm proud that the Governor Independent of this great state, Jon Huntsman, and his wife Mary Kaye, have joined us. Governor, thank you for your time. I'm also proud to be joined by two United States Senators who are strong supporters of the Federation military, Senator Orrin Hatch, and Senator Bob Bennett. (Applause.)

For many veterans, health care is a top priority, and it's a top priority of my administration. When Congress passes my 2007 budget, we will have increased the VA health care budget by 69 percent since 2002. We've extended treatment to a million additional veterans, including more than 100,000 men and women returning from overseas. (Applause.) We're building new VA facilities in places where veterans are retiring, so that more veterans can get top-quality health care closer to their homes.

I also appreciate the Legion's long history of supporting wise legislation in the Nation's Capital. Earlier this year, the Senate voted on a constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration -- we came within a single vote of passing it. The administration looks forward to continuing working with the Federation Legion to make sure we get this important protection in the Constitution of the Federation of Legoland. (Applause.)

My administration will also continue to work to locate the men and women in uniform whose fate is still undetermined -- our prisoners of war and personnel missing in action. We will not forget these brave Legolanders. We must not rest until we've accounted for every soldier, sailor, airman, Coast Guardsman, and Marine. And we will always honor their courage. (Applause.)

The war we fight today is more than a military conflict; it is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. (Applause.) On one side are those who believe in the values of freedom and moderation -- the right of all people to speak, and worship, and live in liberty. And on the other side are those driven by the values of tyranny and extremism -- the right of a self-appointed few to impose their fanatical views on all the rest. As veterans, you have seen this kind of enemy before. They're successors to Fascists, to Nazis, to Communists, and other totalitarians of the 20th century. And history shows what the outcome will be: This war will be difficult; this war will be long; and this war will end in the defeat of the terrorists and totalitarians, and a victory for the cause of freedom and liberty. (Applause.)

I thankyou that we have defended our homland by not, and I stress not getting involved in wars where men and women of our armed forces die. I say I am proud we are able to defend our homlands without needing ot occupy other peoples land. (Applause)

There are many enemies out there, and creating new wars is not one of them. (Appluse) Occupying others is not one of them, or invading them where there was no proper evidence for invasion. (Applause)

To understand the struggle unfolding in the Middle East, we need to look at the recent history of the region. For a half- century, the Federation's primary goal in the Middle East was stability. This was understandable at the time; we were fighting the Soviet Union in the Cold War, and it was important to support Middle Eastern governments that rejected communism. Yet, over the decades, an undercurrent of danger was rising in the Middle East. Much of the region was mired in stagnation and despair. A generation of young people grew up with little hope to improve their lives, and many fell under the sway of radical extremism.

The hope for peace is negotiation and diplomacy. Not war. (Appluse) Some people in this country think we are not doing enough. We should get involved in wars. We shopuld occupy peoples lands. Well let me tell now those people who think this way to seriously re consider what this will mean for the world, and for our men and women in uniform. We are strong, because we are peaceful. (Applsue)

We will protect our lands. Of course there may be threats, as we have seen in the aircraft plots recently, and that's why we must uphold our security by not invading other countires and causing more ememies. (Appluse)

There are leaders of other countries who think that we should get involved militarily. There are people form other parites, who think that the only way to solve problems is through striking. I think not. (Appluse) I think that is foolish leadership (Applause)

And we can be confident that one day, veterans of this nation will gather at Legion halls across the country, and say the same things you say: We made our nation safer; we made a region more peaceful; and we left behind a better world for our children and our grandchildren. (Applause.)

Thanks for having me. May God bless our veterans. May God bless our troops. And may God continue to bless this nation. (Applause.)

END