The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have changed dramatically since U.S. troops invaded those countries, but President Bush has stayed the course while addressing troops there. Below are excerpts from his speeches during a visit to Afghanistan in March and visits to Iraq in November 2003 and last week.
2003 NOV. 27 (THANKSGIVING) IRAQ
Thank you. I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere.
We did not . . . defeat a brutal dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins.
You are defeating the terrorists here in Iraq, so that we don’t have to face them in our own country.
We will stay until the job is done.
The United States and our coalition will help you, help you build a peaceful country so that your children can have a bright future.
Those who attack our coalition forces and kill innocent Iraqis are testing our will.
2006 JUNE 13 IRAQ
Thank you for the warm welcome.
Thought I’d stop in to say “hello.”
I’ve told the American people, we will defeat the enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here at home.
And I also have a message to the Iraqi people that when America gives a commitment, America will keep its commitment.
Now we act not only in our own self-interests, but in the interests of men, women and children in the broader Middle East…
MARCH 1 AFGHANISTAN
We will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins.
Our other message was, is that the United States doesn’t cut and run. When we make a commitment, we keep our commitments.
It takes courage to get rid of a tyrant, or tyrannical governments, and to recognize that the future belongs to democracy.
The enemy cannot defeat us militarily. The only thing they can do is to kill innocent lives and try to shake our will.
