ureandreachofourenemies,wewillwinthisconflictbythepatientaccumulationofsuccees,bymeetingaseriesofchallengeswithdeterminationandwillandpurpose.
todaywefocusonafghanistan,butthebattleisbroader.everynationhasachoicetomake.inthisconflict,thereisnoneutralground.ifanygovernmentoorstheoutlawsandkillersofiocents,theyhavebecomeoutlawsandmurderers,themselves.andtheywilltakethatlonelypathattheirownperil.
i''meakingtoyoutodayfromthetreatyroomofthewhitehouse,aplacewhereamericanpresidentshaveworkedforpeace.we''reapeacefulnation.yet,aswehavelearned,sosuddenlyandsotragically,therecanbenopeaceinaworldofsuddenterror.inthefaceoftoday''snewthreat,theonlywaytopursuepeaceistopursuethosewhothreatenit.
wedidnotaskforthismiion,butwewillfulfillit.thenameoftoday''smilitaryoperationisenduringfreedom.wedefendnotonlyourpreciousfreedoms,butalsothefreedomofpeopleeverywheretoliveandraisetheirchildrenfreefromfear.
iknowmanyamericafeelfeartoday.andourgovernmentistakingstrongprecautio.alllawenforcementandintelligenceagenciesareworkingaggreivelyaroundamerica,aroundtheworldandaroundtheclock.atmyrequest,manygovernorshaveactivatedthenationalguardtostrengthenairportsecurity.wehavecalledupreservestoreinforceourmilitarycapabilityandstrengthentheprotectionofourhomeland.
inthemonthsahead,ourpatiencewillbeoneofourstrengths--patiencewiththelongwaitsthatwillresultfromtightersecurity;patienceandunderstandingthatitwilltaketimetoachieveourgoalpatienceinallthesacrificesthatmaycome.
today,thosesacrificesarebeingmadebymembersofourarmedforceswhonowdefendussofarfromhome,andbytheirproudandworriedfamilies.acommander-in-chiefsendsamerica''ssoanddaughtersintoabattleinaforeignlandonlyafterthegreatestcareandalotofprayer.weaskalotofthosewhowearouruniform.weaskthemtoleavetheirlovedones,totravelgreatdistanc