November 5, 2008
by Volt and Electra Penn

August 1, 2009

"Ten days ago, in my report to the nation on Iraq, I announced the decision to withdraw an additional 50,000 Americans from Iraq over the next year. I said then that I was making that decision despite our concern over increased enemy activity in Syria. I warned that if I concluded that an increased enemy in Syria endangered the lives of Americans remaining in Iraq, I would not hesitate to take strong and effective measures to deal with that situation. Despite that warning, al-Qaida has increased its military activity in Syria.

After full consultation with the National Security Council, Ambassador Colin Powell, General Petraeus and my other advisors, I have concluded that the actions of the enemy clearly endanger the lives of Americans who are in Iraq now and would constitute an unacceptable risk to those who will be there after withdrawal of another 50, 000. To protect our men who are in Iraq, and to guarantee the continued success of our withdrawal and Iraqization program, I have concluded that the time has come for action.

In the last two weeks, al-Qaida has stripped away all pretense of respecting the sovereignty of Syria. Thousands of their soldiers are invading Iraq from Syrian sanctuaries. Coming from these sanctuaries, they have moved into Iraq and are encircling Baghdad.

Syria has become a vast enemy staging area and a springboard for attacks on Iraq along miles of an unprotected mutual border: a refuge where enemy troops could return from combat without fear of retaliation. Al-Qaida men and supplies pour into Syria, jeopardizing not only the lives of our own men, but the people of Iraq as well.

Now confronted with this situation we have two options:

First, we can do nothing. Well the ultimate result of that course of action is clear. Unless we indulge in wishful thinking, the lives of Americans remaining in Iraq after our next withdrawal of 50,000 will be gravely threatened.

Or, we could go to the heart of the trouble. And that means cleaning out major al-Qaida  occupied territories, sanctuaries which serve as bases for attacks on the outskirts of Baghdad. Some of these attacks, incidentally, are as close to Baghdad as Baltimore is to Washington. One enemy stronghold is called the Camel's Hump. It's only 33 miles from Baghdad.

And that is the decision I have made. In co-operation with the armed forces of Iraq, attacks are being launched this week to clean out major enemy sanctuaries on the Syrian-Iraq border. A major responsibility for the ground operations is being assumed by Iraqi forces.

For example, the attacks in several areas, including the Camel's Hump that I referred to a moment ago, are exclusively Iraqi ground operations, under Iraqi command, with the United States providing air and logistical support. There is one area however where I have concluded that a combined American and Iraqi operation is necessary.

Tonight, American and Iraqi units will attack the headquarters for the entire al-Qaida military operation inside Syria's border. This key control center has been occupied by al-Qaida for five years in blatant violation of Syrian neutrality.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear, this is not an invasion of Syria. The areas in which these attacks will be launched are completely occupied and controlled by Iraqi forces. Our purpose is not to occupy the areas. Once enemy forces are driven out of these sanctuaries, and once their military supplies are destroyed, we will withdraw.

These actions are in no way directed to the security interests of any nation. Any government that chooses to use these actions as a pretext for harming relations with the United States will be doing so on its own responsibility and on its own initiative, and we will draw the appropriate conclusions.

And now, let me give you the reasons for my decision. A majority of the American people, a majority of you listening to me are for the withdrawal of our forces from Iraq. The action I have taken tonight is indispensable for the continuing success of that withdrawal program. A majority of the American people want to end this war rather than to have it drag on interminably. The action I have taken tonight will serve that purpose. A majority of the American people want to keep the casualties of our brave men in Iraq at an absolute minimum. The action I take tonight is essential if we are to accomplish that goal.

We take this action not for the purpose of expanding the war into Syria, but for the purpose of ending the war in Iraq, and winning the just peace we all desire.

We have made, we will continue to make every possible effort to end this war through negotiation at the conference table rather than through more fighting in the battlefield.

Let's look again at the record.

We have cut air operations by over 20 per cent. We've announced the withdrawal of over 100, 000 of our men. We've offered to negotiate all issues with only one condition: and that is that the future of Iraq be determined, not by al-Qaida, and not by the United States, but by the people of Iraq themselves.

The answer of the enemy has been intransigence at the conference table, massive military aggression in Syria and stepped-up attacks in Iraq designed to increase American casualties.

This attitude has become intolerable.

We will not react to this threat to American lives merely by plaintive, diplomatic protests.

(Article Continues Below)

If we did, the credibility of the United States would be destroyed in every area of the world where only the power of the United States deters aggression.

Tonight, I again warn al-Qaida that if they continue to escalate the fighting, when the United States is withdrawing its forces, I shall meet my responsibility as commander in chief of our armed forces to take the action I consider necessary to defend the security of our American men.

The action I have announced tonight puts the leaders of al-Qaida on notice that we will be patient in working for peace. We will be conciliatory at the conference table.

But we will not be humiliated.

We will not be defeated.

We will not allow American men to be killed by an enemy from privileged sanctuaries.

The time has come to end this war through peaceful negotiations. We stand ready for those negotiations. We've made major efforts, many of which must remain secret. I say tonight, all the offers and approaches made previously remain on the conference table whenever al-Qaida is ready to negotiate seriously. But if the enemy response to our most conciliatory offers for peaceful negotiation continues to be to increase its attacks and humiliate and defeat us, we shall react accordingly.

My fellow Americans, we live in an age of anarchy, both abroad and at home. We see mindless attacks on all the great institutions, which have been created by free civilizations in the last 500 years. Even here in the United States, the very foundations of our liberties are being systematically destroyed.

Small nations all over the world find themselves under attack from within and from without. If, when the chips are down, the world's most powerful nation -- the United States of America -- acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world.

It is not our power, but our will and character that are being tested tonight.

The question all Americans must ask and answer tonight is this: Does the richest and strongest nation in the history of the world have the character to meet a direct challenge by a group which rejects every effort to win a just peace, ignores our warning, tramples on solemn agreements, violates the neutrality of an unarmed people, and uses our prisoners as hostages? If we fail to meet this challenge, all other nations will be on notice. Despite its overwhelming power, the United States, when a real crisis comes, will be found wanting.

During my campaign for the Presidency, I pledged to bring Americans home from Iraq. They are coming home. I promised to end this war. I shall keep that promise. I promised to win a just peace. I shall keep that promise. We shall avoid a wider war, but we are also determined to put an end to this war.

In this room from where I'm speaking, Woodrow Wilson made the great decisions which led to victory in World War I. Franklin Roosevelt made the decisions which led to our victory in World War II. Dwight D. Eisenhower made decisions which ended the war in Korea and avoided war in the Middle East. John F. Kennedy, in his finest hour, made the great decision which removed Soviet nuclear missiles from Cuba and the western hemisphere. And Richard M. Nixon spoke about how the North Vietnamese infiltrated into South Vietnam from Cambodia.

I have noted that there's been a great deal of discussion with regard to this decision that I have made. I have noted, for example, that a Democrat Senator has said that this move against enemy sanctuaries will make me a one-term President.

No one is more aware than I am of the political consequences of the action I have taken. It is tempting to take the easy political path, to blame this war on the previous Administration, and to bring all our men home immediately -- regardless of the consequences. That would mean defeat for the United States, to desert 18 million Iraqi people who have put their trust in us and to expose them to the same slaughter and savagery which the leaders of al-Qaida inflicted on hundreds of thousands of Afghans.

To get peace at any price now, even though I know that a peace of humiliation for the United States would lead to a bigger war or surrender later, I have rejected all political considerations in making this decision. Whether I'm re-elected is nothing compared to the lives of brave Americans fighting for our country and for the cause of peace and freedom in Iraq.

Whether I may be a one-term President is insignificant compared to whether, by our failure to act in this crisis, the United States proves itself to be unworthy to lead the forces of freedom in this critical period in world history.

I would rather be a one-term president and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-rate power and to see this nation accept the first defeat in its proud history.

I realize in this war there are honest, deep differences in this country about whether we should have become involved; that there are differences to how the war should have been conducted.

But the decision I announce tonight transcends those differences, for the lives of American men are involved.

The opportunity for 50,000 Americans to come home in the next 12 months is involved.

The future of 18-million people in Iraq and 10 million people in Syria is involved.

It is customary to conclude a speech from the White House by asking support for the President of the United States. Tonight, I depart from that precedent. What I ask is far more important. I ask for your support for our brave men fighting tonight halfway around the world, not for territory, not for glory, but so that their younger brothers and their sons, and your sons, can have a chance to grow up in a world of peace, and freedom, and justice.

God bless us and God bless the U.S.A."

President Joe Biden

If you enjoyed this post, please make a donation to help keep this website active:

Click Here for the Free Populist Party Newsletter

Have Penn they'll listen. Volt Penn writes speeches for Progressive Populists and reasoned arguments for those on the left of center. He has also written speeches for anybody who has read his work. You can reach Volt Penn through his artist friend, b.b.kemp, at bbkemp@bbkemp.com

Volt/Electra Penn copyright 2008

More Articles from Volt and Electra Penn