I want our fellow citizens to consider what would happen if these forces of radicalism and extremism are allowed to drive us out of the Middle East. The region would be dramatically transformed in a way that could imperil the civilized world. Extremists of all strains would be emboldened by the knowledge that they forced America to retreat. Terrorists could have more safe havens to conduct attacks on Americans and our friends and allies. Iran could conclude that we were weak -- and could not stop them from gaining nuclear weapons. And once Iran had nuclear weapons, it would set off a nuclear arms race in the region.

Extremists would control a key part of the world's energy supply, could blackmail and sabotage the global economy. They could use billions of dollars of oil revenues to buy weapons and pursue their deadly ambitions. Our allies in the region would be under greater siege by the enemies of freedom. Early movements toward democracy in the region would be violently reversed. This scenario would be a disaster for the people of the Middle East, a danger to our friends and allies, and a direct threat to American peace and security. This is what the extremists plan. For the sake of our own security, we'll pursue our enemies, we'll persevere and we will prevail. (Applause.)

In the short-term, we're using all elements of American power to protect the American people by taking the fight to the enemy. ... Our strategy is this: We will fight them over there so we do not have to face them in the United States of America. (Applause.) (my emphasis)

... We seek an Iran whose government is accountable to its people - instead of to leaders who promote terror and pursue the technology that could be used to develop nuclear weapons.

Shia extremists, backed by Iran, are training Iraqis to carry out attacks on our forces and the Iraqi people. Members of the Qods Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are supplying extremist groups with funding and weapons, including sophisticated IEDs. And with the assistance of Hezbollah, they've provided training for these violent forces inside of Iraq. Recently, coalition forces seized 240-millimeter rockets that had been manufactured in Iran this year and that had been provided to Iraqi extremist groups by Iranian agents. The attacks on our bases and our troops by Iranian-supplied munitions have increased in the last few months - despite pledges by Iran to help stabilize the security situation in Iraq.

Some say Iran's leaders are not aware of what members of their own regime are doing. Others say Iran's leaders are actively seeking to provoke the West. Either way, they cannot escape responsibility for aiding attacks against coalition forces and the murder of innocent Iraqis. The Iranian regime must halt these actions. And until it does, I will take actions necessary to protect our troops. I have authorized our military commanders in Iraq to confront Tehran's murderous activities. (Applause.)

For all those who ask whether the fight in Iraq is worth it, imagine an Iraq where militia groups backed by Iran control large parts of the country. Imagine an Iraq where al Qaeda has established sanctuaries to safely plot future attacks on targets all over the world, including America. We've seen what these enemies will do when American forces are actively engaged in Iraq. And we can envision what they would do if we -- if they were emboldened by American forces in retreat. (my emphasis)

Antiwar groups began demonstrating against military action even before
U.S. troops began to strike back at our enemies. The antiwar group Act Now
to Stop War and End Racism actually held its first antiwar rally on Sept. 29,
2001 - before U.S. forces began the liberation of Afghanistan, before the first
terrorist was jailed at Guantanamo Bay, before the war in Iraq, even before
the fi res stopped smoldering in Manhattan.

Because of their methods, history will not judge these protesters kindly.
They are not only causing additional pain and anguish to America’s heroes, they are also encouraging the enemy, thereby lengthening the war.

In our view, war is painful enough without adding anguish to its veterans
and their families. What do we mean by anguish? Walter Reed Medical Center,
where many of America’s injured warriors are being treated, has been
targeted by war protesters. Some demonstrators have gone as far as protesting
at funerals for America’s fallen heroes. Some opponents of the war have
even called the terrorists "freedom fighters." These terrorists are people who
murder religious pilgrims, behead humanitarian aid workers, kill unarmed
U.N. officials and bomb U.S. troops as they rebuild broken cities. Simply put,
they are not freedom fighters. They are killers without conscience or compunction.
That was obvious to most Americans on 9/11, and it remains obvious
today. (my emphasis)

U.S. forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are committed to completing their mission successfully, transforming tyrannies to democracies and defeating organized terrorism in places where it has been allowed to exist. Those U.S. forces need to know that most Americans share their passion to succeed and that those who oppose the war represent a media-hungry minority whose efforts inspire the enemy. Troops everywhere must know that the people at home support them and their mission. They cannot be separated from each other, and support for both is the fast track to bringing our troops home safely. The protest movement, meanwhile, gives hope to the insurgency, to terrorists and other criminals around the world, energizing their campaigns to destroy America and all it values. (my emphasis)