Defense of America

13 October 2003

The American armed forces, that defend us so well, are the best on the planet - my hat is off to them. They are the best - and I intend to keep it that way.

The best weapon on the planet to combat a foreign air threat is the United States Air Force. The best weapon on the planet to combat a foreign naval threat is the United States Navy. The best weapon on the planet to combat a foreign land threat is the United States Army and the United States Marine Corp. They are all the very best at what they do - and working together as they do so well, they are truly awesome.

No rational foreign government would contemplate a military attack on the United States of America - and I intend to keep it that way.

There are, however, irrational people out there. People who would not only contemplate attacks on America - but have done so.

If these irrational people constitute a foreign government, they experience the awesome power of the United Stated military. These people quickly become dark and minor chapters in history - and I intend to keep it that way.

When the irrational people are not an established government - when they hide among an innocent population - when they hide among us - things are different. Overwhelming military force is not the best tool for ferreting out these people and subjecting them to justice. Assigning this job to the military is doing them a disservice, it is not what they are trained, equipped, organized, and motivated to do. They are not the best tool for the job.

This is police work - and should be assigned to the police professionals. These irrational people will not be brought to justice by politicians or bureaucrats, but by the working police professionals out there on the streets all over the world - the ones already there protecting you and I every day. They are the ones who can apprehend these criminals - they are the best tool for the job.

The world needs to be open and safe for law abiding citizens and prison cells need to be small and cramped for terrorists - and I intend to make it that way.

The police across America and around the world need help. They need help - not direction from Washington. Help in the form of actionable information. Help in the form of access to equipment. Help in the form of funding for antiterrorist operations. Help in the form of cooperation. With this help they can bring terrorist to justice - and I intend to make it that way.

To provide this help I will press for American support of an International Police Assistance Organization. This organization will hire police professionals from around the world - give them the best antiterrorist training available - and send them out to work with local police forces across the planet. These professionals will be a "working point" - the key is they work with the local police, they investigate crimes with the local police, they patrol the streets with the local police, they pursue terrorist leads with the local police. They share information with as well as from the local police.

Terrorists are not invisible, they simply go unnoticed when the local police don’t know who to look for. Terrorist don’t make bombs out of thin air, they buy or steal the materials from somewhere - it is the local police who can notice such things. Across the planet local police need a source of who to look for and a place to report what is going on. The organization I support would provide both - and I intend to make it that way.

This organization would also provide a number of task forces to work with local police in the investigation of credible terrorist leads. Such a task force would arrive at the request of the local police with equipment, staff, and funding to pursue specific leads to conclusion. The result being that terrorist will be hunted down even in areas where the local police don’t presently have the resources to pursue them - and I intend to make it that way.

Obviously the police assistance described will require a great deal of cooperation. The level provided will vary greatly, most governments will see the benefits clearly and offer full cooperation, some less so and will require pressure, and there may be a few who think they prefer to deal directly with the United States Military - a very foolish thought indeed.

I envision a time then terrorist will try to get into the United States - not to attack but to surrender. To surrender because their best option is to spend the rest of their lives in American prisons. I intend to make it that way.

My Fellow Americans, I hope that my words are of value to you. You have been very kind to listen and I Thank You - Good night.

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