For Immediate Release
September 23, 2006
President's Radio Address
Audio
In Focus: Global Diplomacy
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, I traveled to New York City to
address the United Nations General Assembly. In my speech to the
leaders gathered there, I spoke about a more hopeful world that is
within our reach -- a world beyond terror, where ordinary men and women
are free to determine their own destiny, where the voices of moderation
are empowered, and where the extremists are marginalized by the peaceful
majority.
I said that every nation must make a choice: We can support the
moderates and reformers working for change across the broader Middle
East, or we can yield the future to the terrorists and extremists.
America has made its choice - we're standing with the moderates and
reformers.
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In New York, I met with two such leaders, President Talabani of Iraq and
President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. In my meeting with
President Talabani, I told him that America will continue to support
Iraq's democratic government as it makes the tough decisions necessary
to bring security and prosperity to the Iraqi people. I assured
President Talabani that America will not abandon the Iraqi people in
their struggle to defeat the terrorists and build a free society in the
heart of the Middle East.
In my meeting with President Abbas, I told him that America remains
committed to the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine,
living side-by-side in peace and security. President Abbas shares this
goal. He's working hard to oppose violent extremists and build a
society in which the Palestinian people can raise their children in
peace and hope.
By supporting moderate leaders such as President Abbas, the United
States can help Israelis and Palestinians build a more hopeful future
and achieve the peace we all want in the Holy Land.
Next week, I will host a meeting at the White House with two courageous
leaders, President Karzai of Afghanistan and President Musharraf of
Pakistan. These two leaders are working to defeat the forces of
terrorism and extremism. Under President Musharraf, Pakistan is siding
with the forces of freedom and moderation and helping to defend the
civilized world. Many Pakistani forces have given their lives in the
fight against terrorists. President Musharraf understands the stakes in
the war on terror because the extremists have tried more than once to
assassinate him. They know he's a threat to their aspirations because
he's working to build modern democratic institutions that could provide
an alternative to radicalism. And it is in America's interest to help
him succeed.
In Afghanistan, President Karzai continues the work of building a safer
and brighter future for his nation. Today, forces from more than 40
countries, including members of the NATO Alliance, are bravely serving
side-by-side with Afghan forces. These forces are fighting the
extremists who want to bring down the free government that the people of
Afghanistan have established. America and its allies will continue to
stand with the people of Afghanistan as they defend their democratic
gains. Working with President Karzai's government, we will defeat the
enemies of a free Afghanistan and help the Afghan people build a nation
that will never again oppress them or be a safe haven for terrorists.
In the broader Middle East, the world faces a straightforward choice:
We can allow that region to continue on the course it was headed before
September the 11th, and a generation from now our children will face a
region dominated by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with
nuclear weapons; or we can stop that from happening by confronting the
ideology of hate and helping the people of the Middle East build a
future of hope. All civilized nations, especially those in the Muslim
world, are bound together in this struggle between moderation and
extremism. By working together, we will roll back this grave threat to
our way of life, we will help the people of the Middle East claim their
freedom, and we will leave a safer and more hopeful world for our
children and grandchildren.
Thank you for listening.
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