Remarks on strengthening Social Security in Orlando, Florida

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, March 21, 2005

I mean, if you think about Afghanistan, for example, particularly for the young here, it wasn't all that long ago that people in Afghanistan lived under the brutal reign of the Taliban. Now, these people were--had a dark, dim vision of the world, like, if you didn't agree with them 100 percent when it came to their religion, you'd find yourself being flogged in the public square or executed.

We acted in our self-interest. We upheld a doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist." But in so doing, we freed millions of people from the clutches of the Taliban. It didn't happen long after the Taliban was gone that the people of Afghanistan voted for the first time for President in the country's history. Millions showed up at the polls. The first voter, by the way, was a young woman. She wasn't even allowed to express her opinion under the Taliban. She's voting. And as a result of Afghanistan becoming a liberated, free society, the world is more peaceful.

There was a vote in the Palestinian Territories. President Abbas is showing strength and courage by saying to the terrorists, "We'll never achieve peace so long as you kill." I believe there will be a Palestinian state which is a democracy living side by side in peace with Israel, which is a democracy. And we're beginning to see the signs of hopeful progress. Two free societies living side by side in peace will make it easier for our grandchildren to grow up in a peaceful world. I don't have any grandchildren yet--your grandchildren. [Laughter]

Lebanon--think about Lebanon. It's a country occupied by Syria. However, as the world began to speak with one voice to Syria, saying, "Get out. Take your troops out; take your intelligence services out," people poured out in the public square to say, "'We want to be free." There will be a free Lebanon and Syria must listen to the demands of the world and completely withdraw.

And finally, in Iraq--I'm sure some of you have had relatives in Iraq--been a huge sacrifice by our military families and people of America, as a matter of fact, when it came to war. War is always the last resort for a President. Diplomacy must always be tried. We responded to the challenges of the time. But it should have heartened people to see the 8 million plus Iraqis who once lived under the brutal reign of a tyrant go to the polls in defiance of terrorists and cold-blooded killers. That statement was a powerful statement, particularly for young to understand, that when you believe freedom lurks in everybody's soul, that people love to be free, to realize the bravery and courage of those good folks in the face of terrorists has set an example for a lot of countries. A free Iraq is in our interests. A free Iraq will make America more secure, the world more free, which will help us achieve the peace we all want. Freedom is on the march, and over the next 4 years, I'll do all I can to work with friends and allies to keep it on the march.

Just one quick word on what we can do in Congress to make sure that we continue the economic prosperity that's taking place in a place like Florida--it's got one of the lowest unemployment rates in the Nation, by the way. I tried to attribute that to Jeb, but then I realized it completely overlooks the entrepreneurial spirit of the Floridian people. The truth of the matter is, this economy is growing because there's risktakers, dreamers, doers, and hard workers in the State of Florida.