I Pledge Allegiance
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This weekend we
commemorate Veterans Day, a day when America
honors every man and woman who has worn the
uniform of our military. In Veterans Day
celebrations across our Nation, we remember
those who have served in previous wars, those
who are serving today, and those who did not
live to become veterans. Especially in a time of
war, we see in our veterans an example of people
who stepped forward to serve a cause larger than
themselves. This weekend, I ask you to take a
moment to thank our veterans for their service,
and express your appreciation for the sacrifices
they have made to preserve our freedom and way
of life.
One
freedom that defines our way of life is the
freedom to choose our leaders at the ballot box.
We saw that freedom earlier this week, when
millions of Americans went to the polls to cast
their votes for a new Congress. Whatever your
opinion of the outcome, all Americans can take
pride in the example our democracy sets for the
world by holding elections even in a time of
war. Our democratic institutions are a source of
strength, and our trust in these institutions
has made America the most powerful, prosperous,
and stable nation in the world.
As
a result of this week's elections, the
Democrats now hold a majority in both Houses
of Congress. After the elections, I called
the Democratic leaders in the House and the
Senate to congratulate them on the victory
they achieved for their party. On Thursday,
I had lunch with Congresswoman Pelosi and
Congressman Hoyer, and on Friday I met with
Senators Reid and Durbin. We had good
discussions. I told them what I have told
the men and women in my administration: We
must put these elections behind us, and work
together on the great issues facing America.
The elections will bring changes to
Washington. But one thing has not changed:
America faces brutal enemies who have
attacked us before and want to attack us
again. I have a message for these enemies:
Do not confuse the workings of American
democracy with a lack of American will. Our
Nation is committed to bringing you to
justice, and we will prevail.
Iraq is the central front in this war on
terror. I look forward to listening to ideas
from the new leaders of Congress on the best
way to support our troops on the front lines
-- and win the war on terror. I also look
forward to hearing recommendations on the
way forward in Iraq from a bipartisan panel
led by former Secretary of State James Baker
and former Congressman Lee Hamilton.
In
the meantime, I have made an important
change to my national security team. On
Wednesday, I accepted Don Rumsfeld's
resignation as Secretary of Defense, and
announced my intent to nominate Bob Gates to
replace him. Bob is a proven leader who has
served six Presidents -- four Republicans
and two Democrats. As a former CIA Director
and the current President of Texas A&M
University, he has experience leading large
and complex organizations, and he has shown
that he is an agent of change. As Secretary
of Defense, he will provide a fresh outlook
on our strategy in Iraq, and what we need to
do to prevail.
Bob replaces the longest serving member of
my Cabinet, Don Rumsfeld. History will
record that on Secretary Rumsfeld's watch,
the men and women of our military overthrew
two terrorist regimes, brought justice to
scores of senior al Qaeda operatives, and
helped stop new terrorist attacks on our
people. America is safer, and the world is
more secure because of the leadership of Don
Rumsfeld, and I am deeply grateful for his
service.
The message of this week's elections is
clear: the American people want their
leaders in Washington to set aside partisan
differences, conduct ourselves in an ethical
manner, and work together to address the
challenges facing our Nation. This is
important work that will demand the hard
effort and good faith of leaders from both
sides of the aisle, and I pledge to do my
part.
Thank you for listening.
Today's soldier: