The Speech.

I just heard parts of President Bush's speech today about the war on terror to the National Endowment for Democracy and it was just about the most powerful speech I have heard him give. Here is the transcript if you missed it. I suggest you read it since the media seem to not be printing the excerpts that I think are most important. First, Bush made it clear that Islamo-fascism subverts and exploits Islam.

He also made it clear that there will be no cut and run here. We will not show weakness. I was glad to hear him point out our past where we did show weakness in the face of this enemy. The following quote is the one that should be in all the papers:

"They want us to repeat the sad history of Beirut in 1983 and Mogadishu in 1993, only this time on a larger scale with greater consequences.
Second, the militant network wants to use the vacuum created by an American retreat to gain control of a country, a base from which to launch attacks and conduct their war against non-radical Muslim governments."

He explained the different factions of terrorists and explained clearly why they seek to terrorize us:

"First, extremists want to end American and Western influence in the broader Middle East, because we stand for democracy and peace and stand in the way of their ambitions."

Bush likened the ideology of Islamic militants to communism. And he said they are being "aided by elements of the Arab news media that incites hatred and anti-Semitism."

He reminded us of the history of evil:

"And the civilized world knows very well that other fanatics in history, from Hitler to Stalin to Pol Pot, consumed whole nations in war and genocide before leaving the stage of history.
Evil men obsessed with ambition and unburdened by conscience must be taken very seriously, and we must stop them before their crimes can multiply."

Bush made clear the differences between our enemy and ourselves:

"Zarqawi has said that Americans are, quote, "the most cowardly of God's creatures," but let's be clear: It is cowardice that seeks to kill children and the elderly with car bombs and cuts the throat of a bound captive and targets worshipers leaving a mosque.

It is courage that liberated more than 50 million people. It is courage that keeps an untiring vigil against the enemies of a rising democracy. And it is courage and the cause of freedom that once again will destroy the enemies of freedom."

We are facing a radical ideology with immeasurable objectives to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world."

And he finally made clear what we have accomplished so far working with partners in "Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and beyond": (I know this part is long, but read it! It is so important to understand!)

"..we're disrupting militant conspiracies, destroying their ability to make war, and working to give millions in a troubled region of the world a hopeful alternative to resentment and violence.

First, we're determined to prevent the attacks of terrorist network before they occur. We're reorganizing our government to give this nation a broad and coordinated homeland defense. We're reforming our intelligence agency for the incredibly difficult task of tracking enemy activity, based on information that often comes in small fragments from widely scattered sources here and abroad.

We're acting, along with the governments from many countries, to destroy the terrorist networks and incapacitate their leaders.

Together, we've killed or captured nearly all of those directly responsible for the September the 11th attacks, as well as some of bin Laden's most senior deputies, Al Qaida managers and operatives in more than 24 countries: the mastermind of the USS Cole bombing who was chief of Al Qaida operations in the Persian Gulf, the mastermind of the Jakarta and the first Bali bombings, a senior Zarqawi terrorist planner who was planning attacks in Turkey, and many of Al Qaida's senior leaders in Saudi Arabia.

Overall, the United States and our partners have disrupted at least 10 serious Al Qaida terrorist plots since September the 11th, including three Al Qaida plots to attack inside the United States. We've stopped at least five more Al Qaida efforts to case targets in the United States or infiltrate operatives into our country."

And he ends with this:

"We do know, however, that the defense of freedom is worth our sacrifice. We do know the love of freedom is the mightiest force of history. And we do know the cause of freedom will once again prevail.
May God bless you."

This is the speech he should have made long ago, and should have been repeating at every stop.

Because while so many of us understand this fight, it is clear that many do not. Let the left have their say, but let us have ours.

I am confident in the debate that the truth and honor of we do here in this war will win out in the hearts and minds of the people of the United States. We just needed to make it clear.

And I think President Bush just did.