'This War Is Far From Over'

Over the last week the world has witnessed the skill and honor and resolve of our military in the course ofbattle. We have seen the character of this new generation of American Armed Forces. We've seen their daringagainst ruthless enemies and their decency to an oppressed people. Millions of Americans are proud of ourmilitary, and so am I. I am honored to be the Commander-in-Chief.

People across this country are praying. They are praying that they hope those families and loved ones willfind comfort and grace in their sorrow. We pray that God will bless and receive each of the fallen, and wethank God that liberty found such brave defenders.

Every nation in our coalition understands the terrible threat we face from weapons of mass destruction.Every nation represented here refuses to live in a future of fear, at the mercy of terrorists and tyrants. Andevery nation here today shares the same resolve: We will be relentless in our pursuit of victory.

Our military is making good progress in Iraq; yet this war is far from over. As they approach Baghdad, ourfighting units are facing the most desperate elements of a doomed regime. We cannot know the duration of thiswar, but we are prepared for the battle ahead. We cannot predict the final day of the Iraqi regime, but I canassure you, and I assure the long-suffering people of Iraq, there will be a day of reckoning for the Iraqiregime, and that day is drawing near.

Many of you here today were also involved in the liberation of Afghanistan.  The military demands arevery different in Iraq. Yet our coalition is showing the same spirit, the same resolve -- that spirit andresolve that destroyed the al Qaeda terror camps, that routed the Taliban and freed the people of Afghanistan.

In Iraq today, our military is focused and unwavering. We have an effective plan of battle and theflexibility to meet every challenge. Nothing -- nothing -- will divert us from our clear mission. We willpress on through every hardship. We will overcome every danger. And we will prevail.

It has been six days since the major ground war began. It's been five days since the major air war began.And every day has brought us closer to our objective. At the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom, SpecialForces helped to secure air fields and bridges and oil fields, to clear the way for our forces and to preventsabotage and environmental catastrophe. Our pilots and Cruise missiles have struck vital military targets withlethal precision.

We've destroyed the base of a terrorist group in Northern Iraq that sought to attack America and Europewith deadly poisons. We have moved over 200 miles to the north, toward Iraq's capital, in the last threedays.  And the dictator's major Republican Guard units are now under direct and intense attack.  Dayby day, Saddam Hussein is losing his grip on Iraq; day by day, the Iraqi people are closer to freedom.

We are also taking every action we can to prevent the Iraqi regime from using its hidden weapons of massdestruction. We are attacking the command structure that could order the use of those weapons. Coalitiontroops have taken control of hundreds of square miles of territory to prevent the launch of missiles, andchemical or biological weapons.

Every victory in this campaign, and every sacrifice serves the purpose of defending innocent lives, inAmerica and across the world, from the weapons of terror. We will not wait to meet this danger, withfirefighters and police and doctors on the streets of our own cities. Instead, we are meeting the danger todaywith our Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines.

All the nations in our coalition are contributing to our steady progress. British ground forces have seizedstrategic towns and ports. The Royal Air Force is striking targets throughout Iraq. The Royal Navy is takingcommand of coastal waters. The Australian military is providing naval gunfire support, and Special Forces, andfighter aircraft on missions deep in Iraq. Polish military forces have secured an Iraqi oil platform in thePersian Gulf. A Danish submarine is monitoring Iraqi intelligence providing early warning. Czech, Slovak,Polish, and Romanian forces, soon to be joined by Ukrainian and Bulgarian forces, are forward deployed in theregion, prepared to respond in the event of an attack of weapons of mass destruction anywhere in the region.Spain is providing important logistical and humanitarian support. Coalition forces are skilled and courageous,and we are honored to have them by our side.

In the early stages of this war, the world is getting a clearer view of the Iraqi regime and the evil atits heart. In the ranks of that regime are men whose idea of courage is to brutalize unarmed prisoners. Theywage attacks while posing as civilians. They use real civilians as human shields. They pretend to surrender,then fire upon those who show them mercy. This band of war criminals has been put on notice: the day of Iraq'sliberation will also be a day of justice.

And in the early stages of this war, we have also seen the honor of the American military and ourcoalition. Protecting innocent civilians is a central commitment of our war plan. Our enemy in this war is theIraqi regime, not the people who have suffered under it. As we bring justice to a dictator, today we startedbringing humanitarian aid in large amounts to an oppressed land.

We are treating Iraqi prisoners of war according the highest standards of law and decency. Coalitiondoctors are working to save the lives of the wounded, including Iraqi soldiers. One of our servicemen saidthis about the injured Iraqis he treated: "We can't blame them for the mistreatment their government isdoing to our soldiers. I'm all for treating them. That's what we do. That's our job."

Our entire coalition has a job to do, and it will not end with the liberation of Iraq. We will help theIraqi people to find the benefits and assume the duties of self-government. The form of those institutionswill arise from Iraq's own culture and its own choices. Yet, this much is certain: The 24 million people ofIraq have lived too long under a violent criminal gang calling itself a government.

Iraqis are a good and gifted people. They deserve better than a life spent bowing before a dictator. Thepeople of Iraq deserve to stand on their feet as free men and women -- the citizens of a free country.

This goal of a free and peaceful Iraq unites our coalition. And this goal comes from the deepestconvictions of America. The freedom you defend is the right of every person and the future of every nature.The liberty we prize is not American's gift to the world; it is God's gift to humanity..

The Army Special Forces define their mission in a motto, "To liberate the oppressed." Generations of men and women in uniform have served and sacrificed in this cause. Now the call of history hascome once again to all in our military and to all in our coalition. We are answering that call. We have noambition in Iraq except the liberation of its people. We ask no reward except a durable peace. And we willaccept no outcome short of complete and final success.

The path we are taking is not easy, and it may be long. Yet we know our destination. We will stay on thepath -- mile by mile -- all the way to Baghdad, and all the way to victory.

Thank you, all. And may God bless America.