Donald H. Rumsfeld Camp Buehring, Kuwait

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Transcript

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld

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Presenter: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Secretary Rumsfeld Town Hall Meeting in Kuwait

SEC. RUMSFELD: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. My goodness. What a group this is. Impressive gathering. General Steve Whitcomb, thank you so much for your kind words. Sergeant Major Kellman, it’s good to see you again. I appreciate your able leadership as well. First, I want to say thank you to each of you, to your families for your superb service to our country. You are doing noble work, it’s vitally important work and your country is deeply grateful.

Today’s December 8th. Sixty three years ago today our nation declared war on an enemy that had launched a sneak attack on the United States and killed thousands of people. I remember the day well. I doubt that many of you do. [Laughter] Some six decades later, America faces another global conflict. And as it was in 1941, a new generation of Americans has been asked to come to freedom’s defense. In recent times, we’ve witnessed the advance of freedom in nearly every region of the world. In the joy of the reunited Germans dancing atop the crumbling Berlin Wall, after it was torn down. If you think about, in today’s papers, the passionate debate that’s taking place over free elections in Ukraine. And certainly, in the determination of the women who braved violence and cast their ballots in Afghanistan in what was the first ever democratic presidential election in the country’s history.

Think of it, yesterday, December 7th, the inauguration of the first popularly elected president in Afghan’s history. I was there to see that historic event and I’ll never forget it. And all of you who serve in our military in all the coalition countries that assisted in Afghanistan will look back in five or ten or fifteen or twenty years and know that you were a part of something enormously important. Twenty five million Afghan people liberated, voting, tears in their eyes, yesterday at the inauguration of Hamid Karzai. And as you consider your service in Iraq, think also of the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have volunteered to risk their lives, as you have to come to the defense of their newly liberated nation – a nation that was liberated by the coalition countries at the risk of their lives.

These pivotal moments in history would not have been possible, had it not been for the determination and the daring of America’s founders. And the generations of Americans who have advanced those freedoms at home and helped to nurture those freedoms abroad. Now that duty falls to you or more correctly, and I think importantly, you have each volunteered to accept that duty and I know that you are up to the task.

Now I’ve been told something about who’s here today. Some of you are en route out, some of you are en route in, some of you are en route back in for the second time, I understand. I’m told that the Task Force Liberty includes the Rainbow Division that broke [Cheers] I was told right. That’s the division that broke through the Siegfried Line in World War II and liberated Dachau. And I believe it was a division that, decades later, came to the World Trade site within hours of the September 11th attacks.

The Swamp Fox Artillerymen [Cheers], they’re a little slow on the draw. [Laughter] I understand you folks are flexible enough to become experts in military police-style convoy security. Congratulations. And the 699th Maintenance Mad Max Shop, is that right? [Cheers] Oh, good, it’s an echo. [Laughter] I understand you folks have up-armored some 6,000 vehicles and we appreciate that a great deal. And two maneuver brigades from the guard and many others, as well – Active, Guard, Reserve, even some sailors.

FULL TEXT U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Transcript

Human Rights Week

Statement by Secretary Colin L. Powell Brussels, Belgium December 8, 2004

This year the government of the United States joins the global community in commemorating the 56th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Wrought from the horrors of the Second World War, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly to enshrine the principles of equality and justice in law.

In honor of this important event President George W. Bush has officially declared the week of December 10-17, 2004, to be Human Rights Week and December 10, 2004, to be Human Rights Day. In commemorating this week, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles which have come to characterize our nation.

The United States values the sanctity of the individual and is committed to preventing human rights abuses. Our country is one in which all citizens regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, religious faith or other characteristics, are entitled to enjoy equal opportunities and mutual peace.

Today, millions of people across the globe are denied basic human rights, and so on every continent we make important immediate and long-term investments in democracy and human rights. We are working with other countries to establish governments that are chosen by their own people through democratic processes. We are currently working hand-in-hand with the Afghan and Iraqi governments so that human rights and democratic freedoms will be fully restored to people who have suffered years of oppression. Additionally, I will be in Morocco for the first ever "Forum for the Future," which is an extraordinary gathering of nations offering us the opportunity to promote democracy and freedom to the Broader Middle East and North Africa.

Our fight for human rights will continue so long as tyrannical regimes infringe upon the freedom of citizens. Though this challenge remains formidable in the 21st century, we are committed to upholding the principle and practice of democracy. Meeting this challenge will require an unprecedented amount of cooperation among nations, and we stand united with those countries that respect human dignity. We hold our allies in the war on terror and ourselves to these standards. The struggle for freedom requires scrupulous adherence to human rights, not a relaxation of standards.

Please join the United States Department of State in celebrating Human Rights Week by learning more about international human rights from the website of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/. Together, we can pave the road towards equality and freedom for all persons around the world.

2004/1335
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Released on December 8, 2004