pd08ap02 The President's Radio Address...

	Web GovRecords.org

    When our--when the enemy hit us, I couldn't understand what was 
going through their mind. They must have thought our Nation was so self-
absorbed and so materialistic that all we would do would be to file a 
lawsuit. [Laughter] They sure were wrong.
    I said some things, and I meant them. I said to those nations around 
the world, if you think you can hide one of those terrorists or feed 
them or harbor them, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. And thanks 
to the United States military and a vast coalition of freedom-loving 
nations, the Taliban found out exactly what I meant.
    Every chance I get, I try to stress, particularly to the young in 
America, that ours is a nation that doesn't seek revenge; we seek 
justice. And that we went into a country like Afghanistan not as 
conquerors but as liberators. I want to remind you all that, as a result 
of our military action in Afghanistan, we saved thousands of people from 
starvation. And as importantly, schools opened up to young girls. For 
the first time, many young girls got to go to school. I'm so proud of 
the compassion of America. I'm proud of our strength, but I'm equally as 
proud of the compassion of this great nation.
    But we're just starting in Afghanistan, and there's still a lot of 
work to be done there. Afghanistan is still a dangerous place, and 
wherever we find them bunched-up or wherever we find their leaders, 
we're in hot pursuit. We're teaching these people--treating these people 
the way they need to be treated.
     You need to understand: These are cold-blooded killers. These are 
people who hijacked a religion so they can kill for means which freedom-
loving people can't understand. They hate America. They hate what

[[Page 558]]

we stand for. They cannot stand the thought that we worship freely in 
America. They hate the thought that there's viable political discourse. 
They can't stand the thought that we're a free country, that everybody 
has got an equal chance in America. And so they want to harm us.
    We're going to treat them as international crooks, and we're going 
to get them on the run. And like you read in the newspapers or saw on 
your TV screens, we're hunting them down one by one. Our Nation is 
resolved. Our Nation is united. Our Nation understands that we're in 
this for the long haul. History has called us into action. History has 
said to America, ``Are you going to defend freedom or not?'' And the 
answer clearly is, you bet we're going to defend freedom.
    And that's why I've submitted a budget to the United States Congress 
that significantly increases our defense spending. It's the largest 
increase in 20 years. And here's why. First, this is a long struggle, 
and it's not an easy struggle. And secondly, any time the United States 
commits our troops into harm's way, they must have the best equipment, 
the best training, the best possible pay. The price of freedom is high, 
no question about it. But it is not too high, as far as I'm concerned.
    The world watches America very closely. They want to know: Are we 
serious; are we determined; will we tire and grow weary? Because if we 
do grow tired and grow weary, others will as well. They're going to find 
a determined administration who leads a determined country to defend 
freedom.
    And I believe, as a result of being steadfast and strong and 
determined, we can achieve the peace. I long for peace, but I understand 
the road to peace can be really hard. But if America is strong and 
determined and we constantly keep the pressure on terrorist activities 
and terrorism, we can bring peace to places in the world that never 
thought they could have peace.
    I've got a vision for the Middle East that says that Israel must be 
allowed to exist and be at peace with its neighbors. I appreciate the 
fact that Saudi Arabia spoke clearly about the need for Israel to be 
able to have normal relations with its neighbors, so that Israeli boys 
and girls can grow up in a peaceful society. I feel the same thing about 
the Palestinians. I hope that they can have their own peaceful state, at 
peace with their neighbor, Israel, a self-governing country, a country 
in which there is economic prosperity to end the hopelessness of many of 
the citizens who live there.
    But there are those who want to destroy that vision. There are those 
who want to murder to make sure that vision never comes to be. The 
United States of America will stand strong and continue to insist that 
those who yearn for peace in the Middle East and other regions around 
the world must do everything they can to stop the terrorist activities 
all aimed at making sure that peace does not exist.
    Now, out of this evil is going to come some good. A strong America 
will lead to a more peaceful world. And at home, we can fight evil as 
well. People say to me, ``What can I do? What is it that I can do to 
help?'' Well, you can love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved 
yourself. You see, in order to fight evil, this country can gather 
millions of acts of kindness and put a compassionate, kind face on our 
country. In order to fight evil, in order to stand squarely in the face 
of evil, we can let our hearts flow.
    It doesn't take much; it really doesn't. Mentoring a child, teaching 
a child to read or telling a child you love them, a big brother or a big 
sister, a Boys and Girls Club member, is all part of defining the true 
face of America. You know, if you want to fight against--the war on 
terror, if you walk across the street to a shut-in and simply say, ``Can 
I talk with you today,'' that in itself, is part of defining the true 
character of our country.
    The way to fight evil is to help build character in our children. 
The way to fight evil is to tell your children you love them every 
single day, is to remember the most important job you'll ever have, if 
you happen to be a mom or a dad, is to love your son or your daughter 
with all your heart and all your soul. This country is going to win the 
war against evil, because not only are we militarily strong and 
determined, but because we're a nation that is so compassionate and so 
kind and so loving.
    There is a new culture evolving in America. It's a culture that is 
shifting away from ``if it feels good, do it,'' and ``if you've got

[[Page 559]]

a problem, blame somebody else,'' to a culture in which each of us 
understand that we are responsible for something greater than ourself. 
That was clearly defined on an airplane that crashed in Pennsylvania, 
when several people on that plane told their loved ones goodbye. They 
told them they loved them. They said a prayer. They said, ``Let's 
roll,'' and drove an airplane into the ground to save other people's 
lives. It is a symbol of what is possible in America. It is a sign that 
there are people in this Nation willing to make a sacrifice to help a 
neighbor in need, willing to make a sacrifice to make their community a 
better place.
    That's how you win the war on terror. You understand that there is a 
responsibility that comes with living in the greatest country on the 
face of the Earth. The great news is, America is rallying to the cause. 
I can't tell you what an honor it is to be the President of a nation 
full of such great and decent and compassionate and tough and firm and 
freedom-loving human beings.
    I want to thank you all for coming. I want to thank you for 
supporting Mike Fisher. May God bless you all, and may God bless 
America.

Note: The President spoke at 6:03 p.m. in the Ballroom at the Four 
Seasons Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Jane M. Earll, candidate 
for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania; David Girard-diCarlo, 
cochairman, chief executive officer, and managing partner, Blank Rome 
Comisky & McCauley LLP; Manuel N. Stamatakis, president and chief 
executive officer, Capital Management Enterprises; Alan Novak, chairman, 
Robert Asher, national committeeman, and Christine J. Toretti, national 
committeewoman, Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania; and Harold 
B. Hairston, commissioner, Philadelphia Fire Department.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 559-560]
 
Pages 541-569
 
Week Ending Friday, April 5, 2002
 
Remarks on the Ready To Learn Program

April 3, 2002

    Thank you all. Thank you. Laura and I are honored to have you all 
here today, and thank you for coming. Some of you have been to the White 
House before, and I know we've got some first-time visitors here. For 
example, this will be the first time the Vowelles have ever been to the 
White House. [Laughter] Theo and Cleo Lion are also here to sing a song 
titled ``W Trouble.'' [Laughter] I don't know the song, but the theme is 
familiar. [Laughter] My mom often used to say, ``The trouble with W''--
[laughter]--although she didn't put that to words.
    We're delighted that so many children can be a part of this special 
event here in the East Room. Thank you all for coming. It's so good to 
see you. It is wonderful to see children so young and so eager to learn, 
with so many fun opportunities to learn together. Every child is born 
with a love of learning--every child. We adults have a responsibility to 
give them every possible chance to learn and to start early.
    I appreciate the Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, for being here 
today. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I want to thank all the good folks at 
PBS for coming. I appreciate your concern for our Nation's children. And 
as Laura said, we've been aware of your programming for a long time.
    I notice that we've got a larger-than-usual contingent of White 
House staff here today. I know they're not here to see me. [Laughter] 
They're here to see Mr. Rogers. [Laughter] When he comes to the White 
House, it's sure to be a beautiful day in the neighborhood. [Laughter] 
It is impossible for us to count the number of lives you have touched. 
But you have had a huge impact on thousands and thousands of children. 
And there are thousands and thousands of parents and Americans who are 
grateful for your service to the country. In ``Mister Rogers' 
Neighborhood,'' every child is welcomed into the world of learning--not 
just a few, not just ones from certain neighborhoods, but every child.
    Our goal as a nation must be to make sure that no child is denied 
the chance to grow in knowledge and character from their very first 
years. Public Broadcasting System has excelled in carrying out that 
responsibility. Shows like ``Between the Lions'' bring a combination of 
charm, creativity, inclusiveness, and as importantly, proven teaching 
methods to the task of educating young children. And these shows are 
being used in Head Start and day care centers to encourage early 
learning. The Ready To Learn program helps

[[Page 560]]

make all these shows possible, and my administration is proud to support 
it.
    America is making great progress in education reform. We're 
providing higher levels of support for our schools, higher standards for 
performance in the classrooms. We're giving teachers the resources and 
training necessary for their mission. We're respecting local control of 
our schools and respect the authority of parents, so that moms and dads 
have greater say in how their children are educated.
    Under the bipartisan reforms we passed into law, all students in 
America have a better chance to learn and excel and to live out their 
dreams. Yet, as we prepare our schools to teach, we must prepare our 
children to learn. As we raise educational standards, which we must do, 
each of our children needs an equal opportunity to meet those standards.
    And creating that opportunity must begin early, even before school 
starts. On the first day of school, children need to know letters and 
numbers. They need a strong vocabulary, and they need to love books. 
These are the building blocks of learning, and this Nation must provide 
them.
    Early learning is a priority for my Government. By implementing a 
new accountability system, we'll make sure every Head Start center is 
providing early learning in the best way possible. Starting this summer, 
we will train Head Start teachers in proven methods to encourage early 
reading and language skills. And the Federal Government will work with 
States to promote early learning programs.
    More than anyone else, parents need to be involved. Laura has begun 
an important effort to get new parents the information they need to 
start their sons and daughters on the path to learning. And we're so 
proud to be working with PBS and a host of other organizations to get 
this information out more broadly.
    Reading to your children is a joy. We believe it's a responsibility. 
Parents are the first teachers in their children's lives, and they can 
also be the best.
    I thank all the parents in this room for what you do and for the 
important example you set. I want to thank the teachers who are here for 
devoting yourselves to one of the great callings in life. I want to 
thank the broadcasters and others who play such an important part in the 
life of our country.
    Again, welcome to the White House. May God bless the Nation's 
children. And may God bless America.

Note: The President spoke at 2:23 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to PBS television characters the 
Vowelles and Theo and Cleo Lion from the program ``Between the Lions''; 
and Fred Rogers, creator, writer, and host of the PBS television series 
``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.''


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 560-563]
 
Pages 541-569
 
Week Ending Friday, April 5, 2002
 
Remarks on the Situation in the Middle East

April 4, 2002

    Good morning. During the course of one week, the situation in the 
Middle East has deteriorated dramatically. Last Wednesday, my Special 
Envoy, Anthony Zinni, reported to me that we were on the verge of a 
cease-fire agreement that would have spared Palestinian and Israeli 
lives. That hope fell away when a terrorist attacked a group of innocent 
people in a Netanya hotel, killing many men and women in what is a 
mounting toll of terror.
    In the days since, the world has watched with growing concern the 
horror of bombings and burials and the stark picture of tanks in the 
street. Across the world, people are grieving for Israelis and 
Palestinians who have lost their lives.
    When an 18-year-old Palestinian girl is induced to blow herself up 
and in the process kills a 17-year-old Israeli girl, the future itself 
is dying--the future of the Palestinian people and the future of the 
Israeli people. We mourn the dead, and we mourn the damage done to the 
hope of peace, the hope of Israel's and the Israelis' desire for a 
Jewish state at peace with its neighbors, the hope of the Palestinian 
people to build their own independent state.
    Terror must be stopped. No nation can negotiate with terrorists, for 
there is no way to make peace with those whose only goal is death.

[[Page 561]]

    This could be a hopeful moment in the Middle East. The proposal of 
Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, supported by the Arab League, has 
put a number of countries in the Arab world closer than ever to 
recognizing Israel's right to exist. The United States is on record 
supporting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a 
Palestinian state. Israel has recognized the goal of a Palestinian 
state. The outlines of a just settlement are clear: two states, Israel 
and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
    This can be a time for hope, but it calls for leadership, not for 
terror. Since September the 11th, I've delivered this message: Everyone 
must choose; you're either with the civilized world, or you're with the 
terrorists. All in the Middle East also must choose and must move 
decisively in word and deed against terrorist acts.
    The Chairman of the Palestinian Authority has not consistently 
opposed or confronted terrorists. At Oslo and elsewhere, Chairman Arafat 
renounced terror as an instrument of his cause, and he agreed to control 
it. He's not done so.
    The situation in which he finds himself today is largely of his own 
making. He's missed his opportunities and thereby betrayed the hopes of 
the people he's supposed to lead. Given his failure, the Israeli 
Government feels it must strike at terrorist networks that are killing 
its citizens.
    Yet, Israel must understand that its response to these recent 
attacks is only a temporary measure. All parties have their own 
responsibilities, and all parties owe it to their own people to act.
    We all know today's situation runs the risk of aggravating long-term 
bitterness and undermining relationships that are critical to any hope 
of peace. I call on the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority, 
and our friends in the Arab world to join us in delivering a clear 

Other Popular 2002 Presidential Documents Documents:

Other Documents:

2002 Presidential Documents Records and Documents