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Skriven 2005-08-24 23:33:54 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0508242) for Wed, 2005 Aug 24
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Fact Sheet: President Bush Honors America's National Guard and Reserve
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 24, 2005

Fact Sheet: President Bush Honors America's National Guard and Reserve


Today's Presidential Action:

Today, President Bush Delivered Remarks On The War On Terror In Boise.The
President thanked the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve for
their service and sacrifice during this time of war. Whether providing
disaster relief and security here at home, or advancing freedom abroad, the
men and women of the National Guard and Reserve are serving with courage
and distinction and are defending the American people.

President Bush Honors The Service Of The National Guard And Reserve
  þ America's National Guard And Reserve Are Serving Honorably In All
    Aspects Of The War On Terror. The National Guard is protecting the
    Homeland and taking the fight to the enemy abroad. Since September
    11th, more than 243,000 members of the National Guard have been
    mobilized for various missions in the War on Terror.
  þ Our Nation Is Depending On Guard And Reserve Members, Their Families,
    And Their Communities. A time of war is a time of sacrifice - and a
    heavy burden falls on our military families. By standing with our
    service members, they are standing up for America - and America
    appreciates their service. We also depend on the understanding and
    support of Guard employers. By enabling employees to serve, businesses
    are putting patriotism ahead of profit because they know that our
    prosperity and way of life depend on the freedom the Guard defends.
      þ The Administration Is Working To Improve Service Conditions For The
        Guard And Reserve. The Administration is working to improve the
        call-up process so Guard members and their families receive more
        notice and information about deployments. In most cases, Guard
        members now receive at least 30 days' notification before
        mobilization. The Administration is also working to give as much
        certainty as possible about the length of mobilization and is
        working to minimize the number of extensions and repeat
        mobilizations. Guard members and their families will be treated
        with the dignity they deserve - and with the respect they have
        earned.
      þ The Administration Is Working To Improve The Quality Of Life For
        The Guard And Reserve. The Administration has expanded health care
        benefits for Guard and Reserve forces and their families - giving
        access to the military's TRICARE system for up to 90 days before
        reporting and 180 days after deactivation. We are also expanding
        access to education by providing our Guard and Reserve forces
        between 40 and 80 percent of the education benefit available to
        active-duty forces - depending on the length of their mobilization
        in the War on Terror.
      þ The Administration Is Working To Retain And Reward Members Of The
        Guard And Reserve. The Administration has tripled the amount that
        can be paid for re-enlisting in the National Guard or Reserve - and
        the President has asked Congress to authorize a new retention bonus
        for members of the Guard and Reserve who have critical skills we
        need in the struggle against the terrorists.

President Bush Has Outlined A Comprehensive Strategy To Win The War On
Terror
  þ Protecting The Homeland. The Administration has reformed our
    intelligence services, trained more than 800,000 first responders, and
    disrupted terrorist cells in our midst through new tools like the USA
    Patriot Act. We are hunting down the terrorists in the shadows before
    they can attack our country again.
  þ Fighting The Terrorists Abroad Before They Can Attack Us Here At Home.
    September 11th taught us that retreating within our borders will not
    keep us safe while the terrorists plot and plan. That is why American
    men and women in uniform are taking the fight to the terrorists in
    Afghanistan, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and elsewhere. The only way to
    defend our citizens where we live is to go after the terrorists where
    they plot and plan.
  þ Advancing Freedom To Ensure American Security. In the long run, the
    best way to defeat the terrorists is by offering an alternative to
    their ideology of hatred and fear. By advancing the cause of liberty in
    the Middle East, we are bringing hope to millions, security to our
    citizens - and laying the foundation of peace for our children and
    grandchildren. As people in the Middle East and across the world
    advance peace and gain freedom, America will be more secure.

Retreat And Isolation Will Not Make America Safe; We Must Complete The
Mission In Iraq
  þ September 11, 2001, Gave Us A Choice Between Waiting To Be Attacked
    Again And Going On The Offense. During the last few decades, the
    terrorists grew to believe that if they attack America - as in Lebanon
    and Somalia - America would retreat and back down. They are trying to
    break America's will with acts of brutality and violence. Their goal is
    to force a retreat, so they can topple governments in the Middle East
    and turn that region into a safe haven for terrorism and tyranny. We
    saw the terrible harm that terrorists did when they took effective
    control of a failed state in Afghanistan, which led directly to the
    attacks of September 11th.
      þ America Will Not Wait To Be Attacked Again. America will confront
        emerging threats before they fully materialize. We will not allow
        the terrorists to establish new places of refuge in failed states,
        from which they can recruit and train and plan new attacks on our
        citizens. Nations that harbor a terrorist are just as guilty as the
        terrorists.
      þ We Must Complete The Mission In Iraq. A withdrawal of our troops in
        Iraq or the broader Middle East before the mission is complete - as
        some have called for - would only embolden the terrorists and
        create a staging ground to launch more attacks against America and
        other free people.
      þ The Iraqi People Are Making Progress. Iraqis braved threats and
        violence and defied the terrorists to make their voices heard in
        elections, and today they are working to write their own
        constitution. Producing a constitution is a difficult process that
        involves debate and compromise. Americans know this from our own
        history, and that is why we admire their thoughtful deliberations
        and determination to lay the foundation for a lasting democracy.
  þ Members Of The National Guard And Reserve Understand That The Rise Of
    Liberty Is Critical To Our National Security. Guard and Reserves
    members understand the power of freedom because they have witnessed it
    with their own eyes. They have seen up close the desire for liberty, as
    Iraqis made their voices heard in elections and as they move toward
    their own secure democracy.
  þ America Will Prevail Through The Challenges We Face In Iraq. Since the
    morning of September 11th, we have known that the War on Terror would
    require great sacrifice. In this war, 491 heroes of our National Guard
    and Reserves have given their lives for a cause that is just and
    necessary for the security of our country - and now we will honor their
    sacrifice by completing their mission. We will prevail in this struggle
    because freedom is the permanent hope of mankind - and because we have
    on our side the greatest force for freedom in the history of the world:
    the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

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