Remarks at Parkrose High School in Portland, Oregon

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, Jan 14, 2002

I am so proud of our country. I'm proud of the fact that at the same time that we waged a war against Al Qaida and the Taliban, we fed the people. I read an important headline the other day that-it said it looked like we avoided a terrible disaster by providing food for thousands of people in Afghanistan. While we dropped bombs, we also dropped food and medicine and clothing to make sure that the innocents in Afghanistan could survive the brutal winter in that part of the world. We're a great nation.

We're making steady progress, and I use the word "steady" because sometimes it seems like there is a certain impatience in the airwaves. But I don't believe there's an impatience amongst the American people. As a matter of fact, I think the American people are very patient. They understand this is a difficult assignment, and they understand, like I do, that we've got to be patient in order to be successful.

But we've accomplished a lot in 90 days. That's not a very long period of time. It's been a long period of time for Al Quaida--[laughter]--but it hasn't been a very long period of time for us.

The reason we've had--we've got a good strategy, and we've got a great military. For those of you who serve in our military or for those of you whose sons or daughters or relatives serve in the military, thank you.

But I do want to remind our fellow citizens that we're now in a dangerous phase of this in Afghanistan, because those who are willing to send young people to their suicide death hide in caves, themselves, to save their own skin. And I told the world, just like I told the American people: You can hide, but we will smoke you out and bring you to justice.

I'm so sorry to report that Sergeant Nathan Chapman lost his life yesterday. But I wanted--I want Sergeant Chapman's family to know that the cause for which he died is just and noble, the cause of freedom and the hope that our children and grandchildren will be able to grow up in a world that is free of the barbaric behavior of terrorism.

We're on a mission, and we will not yield until the mission is complete. The war against terror is broader than just Afghanistan, and that is exactly what I have made clear to members of the vast coalition which we have put together. I said there are no shades of gray in this fight for civilization--there are no shades of gray. Either you're with the United States of America, or you're against the United States of America.

I'm sure there were some people who were anxious to sit on the fence for a while. But what they've come to realize is that this Nation, when aroused, is a mighty nation, a nation that, when we make up our mind we're going to do something, we're going to do it. We're going to shake terrorism loose wherever it exists and bring those to justice who have hurt America and bring those to justice who might hurt America.

Let me tell you that part of this war is overseas, but part of it is here at home. My biggest job as your President is to make sure no one harms the American people. My biggest job is to rally the resources of this country, and have a homeland defense that will take every lead, every idea, every hint that somebody may harm us and rout them out, and give them a chance to protect America, and give them a chance to make this land secure.