I am grateful for the privilege of
speaking to the General Assembly.
Last week, America and the world marked the
fifth anniversary of the attacks that filled another
September morning with death and suffering. On that
terrible day, extremists killed nearly 3,000 innocent
people, including citizens of dozens of nations
represented right here in this Hall. Since then, the
enemies of humanity have continued their campaign of
murder. Al-Qaida and those inspired by its extremist
ideology have attacked more than two dozen nations.
And recently, a different group of extremists
deliberately provoked a terrible conflict in Lebanon. At
the start of the twenty-first century, it is clear that the
world is engaged in a great ideological struggle
between extremists who use terror as a weapon to
create fear and moderate people who work for peace.
Five years ago, I stood at this rostrum and called
on the community of nations to defend civilization and
build a more hopeful future. This is still the great
challenge of our time. It is the calling of our
generation. This morning, I want to speak about the
more hopeful world that is within our reach — a world
beyond terror, where ordinary men and women are free
to determine their own destiny, where the voices of
moderation are empowered and where the extremists
are marginalized by the peaceful majority. This world
can be ours if we seek it and if we work together.
The principles of this world beyond terror can be
found in the very first sentence of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. This document declares
that the “equal and inalienable rights of all members of
the human family [are] the foundation of freedom,
justice and peace in the world”. One of the authors of
this document was a Lebanese diplomat named Charles
Malik, who would go on to become President of this
Assembly. Mr. Malik insisted that these principles
apply equally to all people, of all religions, in all
regions — including the men and women of the Arab
world that was his home.
In the nearly six decades since that document was
approved, we have seen the forces of freedom and
moderation transform entire continents. Sixty years
after a terrible war, Europe is now whole, free and at
peace, and Asia has seen freedom progress and
hundreds of millions of people lifted out of desperate
poverty. The words of the Universal Declaration are as
true today as they were when they were written. As
liberty flourishes, nations grow in tolerance, and hope,
and peace. And we are seeing the bright future begin to
take root in the broader Middle East.
Some of the changes in the Middle East have
been dramatic, and we see the results in this Hall. Five
years ago, Afghanistan was ruled by the brutal Taliban
regime, and its seat in this body was contested. Now
this seat is held by the freely elected Government of
Afghanistan, which is represented today by President
Karzai. Five years ago, Iraq’s seat in this body was
9 06-52731
held by a dictator who killed his citizens, invaded his
neighbours and showed his contempt for the world by
defying more than a dozen Security Council
resolutions. Now Iraq’s seat is held by a democratic
Government that embodies the aspirations of the Iraqi
people, represented today by President Talabani. With
these changes, more than 50 million people have been
given a voice in this Hall for the first time in decades.
Some of the changes in the Middle East are
happening gradually, but they are real. Algeria has held
its first competitive presidential election, and the
military remained neutral. The United Arab Emirates
recently announced that half of its seats in the Federal
National Council will be chosen by elections. Kuwait
held elections in which women were allowed to vote
and run for office for the first time. Citizens have voted
in municipal elections in Saudi Arabia, in
parliamentary elections in Jordan and Bahrain and in
multiparty presidential elections in Yemen and in
Egypt. These are important steps, and the Governments
should continue to move forward with other reforms
that show that they trust their people. Every nation that
travels the road to freedom moves at a different pace,
and the democracies they build will reflect their own
cultures and traditions. But the destination is the same:
a free society where people live at peace with each
other and at peace with the world.
Some have argued that the democratic changes
we are seeing in the Middle East are destabilizing the
region. This argument rests on a false assumption: that
the Middle East was stable to begin with. The reality is
that the stability we thought we saw in the Middle East
was a mirage. For decades, millions of men and women
in the region have been trapped in oppression and
hopelessness. And these conditions left a generation
disillusioned and made this region a breeding ground
for extremism.
Imagine what it is like to be a young person
living in a country that is not moving toward reform.
You are 21 years old, and while your peers in other
parts of the world are casting their ballots for the first
time, you are powerless to change the course of your
Government. While your peers in other parts of the
world have received educations that prepare them for
the opportunities of a global economy, you have been
fed propaganda and conspiracy theories that blame
others for your country’s shortcomings. And
everywhere you turn, you hear extremists who tell you
that you can escape your misery and regain your
dignity through violence and terror and martyrdom. For
many across the broader Middle East, this is the dismal
choice presented every day.
Every civilized nation, including those in the
Muslim world, must support those in the region who
are offering a more hopeful alternative. We know that
when people have a voice in their future they are less
likely to blow themselves up in suicide attacks. We
know that when leaders are accountable to their people,
they are more likely to seek national greatness in the
achievements of their citizens, rather than in terror and
conquest. So we must stand with democratic leaders
and moderate reformers across the broader Middle
East. We must give voice to the hopes of decent men
and women who want for their children the same things
we want for ours. We must seek stability through a free
and just Middle East where the extremists are
marginalized by millions of citizens in control of their
own destinies.
Today, I would like to speak directly to the
people across the broader Middle East. My country
desires peace. Extremists in your midst spread
propaganda claiming that the West is engaged in a war
against Islam. This propaganda is false, and its purpose
is to confuse you and justify acts of terror. We respect
Islam, but we will protect our people from those who
pervert Islam to sow death and destruction. Our goal is
to help you build a more tolerant and hopeful society
that honours people of all faiths and promotes peace.
To the people of Iraq: nearly 12 million of you
braved the car bombers and assassins last December to
vote in free elections. The world saw you hold up
purple ink-stained fingers, and your courage filled us
with admiration. You have stood firm in the face of
horrendous acts of terror and sectarian violence, and
we will not abandon you in your struggle to build a
free nation. America and our coalition partners will
continue to stand with the democratic Government you
elected. We will continue to help you secure the
international assistance and investment you need to
create jobs and opportunity, working with the United
Nations and through the International Compact with
Iraq endorsed here in New York yesterday. We will
continue to train those of you who stepped forward to
fight the enemies of freedom. We will not yield the
future of your country to terrorists and extremists. In
return, your leaders must rise to the challenges your
country is facing and make difficult choices to bring
security and prosperity. Working together, we will help
06-52731 10
your democracy succeed, so that it can become a
beacon of hope for millions in the Muslim world.
To the people of Afghanistan: together, we
overthrew the Taliban regime that brought misery into
your lives and harboured terrorists who brought death
to the citizens of many nations. Since then, we have
watched you choose your leaders in free elections and
build a democratic Government. You can be proud of
these achievements. We respect your courage and your
determination to live in peace and freedom. We will
continue to stand with you to defend your democratic
gains.
Today, forces from more than 40 countries,
including members of the NATO alliance, are bravely
serving side by side with you against the extremists
who want to bring down the free Government you have
established. We will help you defeat these enemies and
build a free Afghanistan that will never again oppress
you or be a safe haven for terrorists.
To the people of Lebanon: last year, you inspired
the world when you came out into the streets to
demand your independence from Syrian dominance.
You drove Syrian forces from your country and you
re-established democracy. Since then, you have been
tested by the fighting that began with Hizbollah’s
unprovoked attacks on Israel. Many of you have seen
your homes and your communities caught in crossfire.
We see your suffering, and the world is helping you to
rebuild your country and helping you deal with the
armed extremists who are undermining your
democracy by acting as a State within a State.
The United Nations has passed a good resolution
that has authorized an international force, led by
France and Italy, to help you restore Lebanese
sovereignty over Lebanese soil. For many years,
Lebanon was a model of democracy and pluralism and
openness in the region — and it will be again.
To the people of Iran: the United States respects
you. We respect your country. We admire your rich
history, your vibrant culture and your many
contributions to civilization. You deserve an
opportunity to determine your own future, an economy
that rewards your intelligence and your talents and a
society that allows you to fulfil your tremendous
potential. The greatest obstacle to this future is that
your rulers have chosen to deny you liberty and to use
your nation’s resources to fund terrorism, and fuel
extremism, and pursue nuclear weapons.
The United Nations has passed a clear resolution
requiring that the regime in Tehran meet its
international obligations. Iran must abandon its nuclear
weapons ambitions. Despite what the regime tells you,
we have no objection to Iran’s pursuit of a truly
peaceful nuclear power programme. We are working
toward a diplomatic solution to this crisis, and as we
do, we look to the day when you can live in freedom
and America and Iran can be good friends and close
partners in the cause of peace.
To the people of Syria: your land is home to a
great people with a proud tradition of learning and
commerce. Today your rulers have allowed your
country to become a crossroad for terrorism. In your
midst, Hamas and Hizbollah are working to destabilize
the region, and your Government is turning your
country into a tool of Iran. This is increasing your
country’s isolation from the world. Your Government
must choose a better way forward by ending its support
for terror, and living in peace with your neighbours,
and opening the way to a better life for you and your
families.
To the people of Darfur: you have suffered
unspeakable violence, and my nation has called these
atrocities what they are: genocide. For the last two
years, America joined with the international
community to provide emergency food aid and support
for an African Union peacekeeping force. Yet your
suffering continues. The world must step forward to
provide additional humanitarian aid, and we must
strengthen the African Union force that has done good
work but is not strong enough to protect you. The
Security Council has approved a resolution that would
transform the African Union force into a blue-helmeted
force that is larger and more robust. To increase its
strength and effectiveness, NATO nations should
provide logistics and other support. The regime in
Khartoum is stopping the deployment of this force. If
the Sudanese Government does not approve this
peacekeeping force quickly, the United Nations must
act. Your lives and the credibility of the United Nations
are at stake. So today I am announcing that I am
naming a presidential Special Envoy — former
Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, Andrew Natsios — to lead
America’s efforts to resolve the outstanding disputes
and help bring peace to your land.
The world must also stand up for peace in the
Holy Land. I am committed to two democratic States,
11 06-52731
Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and
security. I am committed to a Palestinian State that has
territorial integrity and will live peacefully with the
Jewish State of Israel. This is the vision set forth in the
road map, and helping the parties to reach this goal is
one of the great objectives of my presidency. The
Palestinian people have suffered from decades of
corruption and violence and the daily humiliation of
occupation. Israeli citizens have endured brutal acts of
terrorism and constant fear of attack since the birth of
their nation. Many brave men and women have made
the commitment to peace. Yet extremists in the region
are stirring up hatred and trying to prevent these
moderate voices from prevailing.
This struggle is unfolding in the Palestinian
territories. Earlier this year, the Palestinian people
voted in a free election. The leaders of Hamas
campaigned on a platform of ending corruption and
improving the lives of the Palestinian people, and they
prevailed. The world is waiting to see whether the
Hamas Government will follow through on its
promises or pursue an extremist agenda. The world has
sent a clear message to the leaders of Hamas: serve the
interests of the Palestinian people, abandon terror,
recognize Israel’s right to exist, honour agreements and
work for peace.
President Abbas is committed to peace and to his
people’s aspirations for a State of their own. Prime
Minister Olmert is committed to peace, and has said he
intends to meet with President Abbas to make real
progress on the outstanding issues between them. I
believe that peace can be achieved and that a
democratic Palestinian State is possible. I hear from
leaders in the region who want to help. I have directed
Secretary of State Rice to lead a diplomatic effort to
engage moderate leaders across the region to help the
Palestinians reform their security services and support
Israeli and Palestinian leaders in their efforts to come
together to resolve their differences.
Prime Minister Blair has indicated that his
country will work with partners in Europe to help
strengthen the governing institutions of the Palestinian
administration. We welcome his initiative. Countries
like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have made clear
that they are willing to contribute the diplomatic and
financial assistance necessary to help these efforts
succeed. I am optimistic that, by supporting the forces
of democracy and moderation, we can help Israelis and
Palestinians build a more hopeful future and achieve
the peace in the Holy Land that we all want.
Freedom, by its nature, cannot be imposed; it
must be chosen. From Beirut to Baghdad, people are
making the choice for freedom. And the nations
gathered in this Hall must make a choice as well. Will
we support the moderates and reformers who are
working for change across the Middle East, or will we
yield the future to the terrorists and extremists?
America has made its choice: we will stand with the
moderates and reformers.
Recently, a courageous group of Arab and
Muslim intellectuals wrote me a letter. In it, they said
this: “The shore of reform is the only one on which any
lights appear, even though the journey demands
courage, patience and perseverance”. The United
Nations was created to make that journey possible.
Together we must support the dreams of good and
decent people who are working to transform a troubled
region. And by doing so, we will advance the high
ideals on which this institution was founded.