State of the Union AddressesBush, George W. (George Walker)
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State of the Union Addresses
Bush, George W. (George Walker)
Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
The war on terror we fight today is a generational struggle that will
continue long after you and I have turned our duties over to others.
And that's why it's important to work together so our nation can see
this great effort through. Both parties and both branches should work
in close consultation. It's why I propose to establish a special
advisory council on the war on terror, made up of leaders in Congress
from both political parties. We will share ideas for how to position
America to meet every challenge that confronts us. We'll show our
enemies abroad that we are united in the goal of victory.
And one of the first steps we can take together is to add to the ranks
of our military so that the American Armed Forces are ready for all the
challenges ahead. (Applause.) Tonight I ask the Congress to authorize
an increase in the size of our active Army and Marine Corps by 92,000
in the next five years. (Applause.) A second task we can take on
together is to design and establish a volunteer Civilian Reserve Corps.
Such a corps would function much like our military reserve. It would
ease the burden on the Armed Forces by allowing us to hire civilians
with critical skills to serve on missions abroad when America needs
them. It would give people across America who do not wear the uniform a
chance to serve in the defining struggle of our time.
Americans can have confidence in the outcome of this struggle because
we're not in this struggle alone. We have a diplomatic strategy that is
rallying the world to join in the fight against extremism. In Iraq,
multinational forces are operating under a mandate from the United
Nations. We're working with Jordan and Saudi Arabia and Egypt and the
Gulf States to increase support for Iraq's government.
The United Nations has imposed sanctions on Iran, and made it clear
that the world will not allow the regime in Tehran to acquire nuclear
weapons. (Applause.) With the other members of the Quartet -- the U.N.,
the European Union, and Russia -- we're pursuing diplomacy to help
bring peace to the Holy Land, and pursuing the establishment of a
democratic Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel in peace
and security. (Applause.) In Afghanistan, NATO has taken the lead in
turning back the Taliban and al Qaeda offensive -- the first time the
Alliance has deployed forces outside the North Atlantic area. Together
with our partners in China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, we're
pursuing intensive diplomacy to achieve a Korean Peninsula free of
nuclear weapons. (Applause.)
We will continue to speak out for the cause of freedom in places like
Cuba, Belarus, and Burma [1] -- and continue to awaken the conscience
of the world to save the people of Darfur. (Applause.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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