President Bush speaks to Travis audience - Brief Article

Airman, Nov, 2001 by Mark Diamond

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIF. (AFPN) -- The U.S. military's real strength is not in aircraft weapon systems, but in the men and women who fly them and maintain them, and "the people who make the military go."

That was the message President George W. Bush directed to military members during a stopover at Travis Air Force Base en route to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shanghai, China, in October.

He discussed the current campaign against terrorism. "We can be alert, and we will be alert. But we must show them that they cannot terrorize the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And we won't. We will not be terrorized; we will not be cowed.

"To the families of those of you whose mom or dad or husband or wife have been deployed, I want you to know that they're on a noble mission. The cause is just, and we will win," Bush said.

"And one thing I fully understand is that when American farces answer the call of duty, they count on their families for support and encouragement," he said. "Every deployment brings uncertainty and, I know, every deployment brings worry and concern. Our military is made up of brave men and women, and brave families, as well."

Although most of the people in the audience had waited for hours for a chance to see the president, spirits were high and Bush's words were well received.