The "war on terror" is advancing but not yet won: US President George W Bush confident
Sudhir Chadda
May 21, 2005

US President George Bush sounds more confident as he hinted that war on terror is on and will be won soon. It will be a better day for every corner of the world after that.

The "war on terror" is advancing but not yet won, US President George W Bush said on Saturday.

"The war on terror continues, and we are making solid progress, but we must not become complacent," Bush warned in his weekly radio address.

"We will continue to pursue terrorists abroad. We will continue to support democratic change throughout the world, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and the broader Middle East. And we will do whatever it takes to support our men and women in uniform and give them the tools they need to prevail.

"Our strategy is clear: We will fight the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. While some difficult days still lie ahead, these recent victories are making America safer and the world more secure," Bush maintained.

"Terrorists know that there is no room for them as freedom takes root in the broader Middle East, so they are fighting to stop its progress," he said. "But in recent weeks, we have dealt them a series of devastating blows.

"In Afghanistan, we have brought to justice dozens of terrorists and insurgents. In Pakistan, one of Osama bin Laden's senior terrorist leaders, a man named Al-Libbi, was brought to justice. In Iraq, we captured two deputies of the terrorist (Abu Musab al-)Zarqawi, and our forces have killed or captured hundreds of terrorists and insurgents near the Syrian border," Bush said.

"As we make progress against today's enemies, we are also transforming our military to defeat the enemies we might face in the decades ahead. On Friday, I will speak to future leaders of our military who are graduating from the US Naval Academy about how we are making our armed forces faster, more agile and more lethal," he said.

Bush stressed: "We are making good progress in advancing the cause of freedom, defeating the forces of terror and transforming our military so we can meet the emerging threats of the 21st century.

Bush on Monday welcomes Afghan President Hamid Karzai to the White House. "We''re helping Afghanistan's elected government solidify these democratic gains and deliver real change. A nation that once knew only the terror of the Taliban is now seeing a rebirth of freedom, and we will help them succeed," Bush added.

One US soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a bomb blast in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, US military spokeswoman Lieutenant Cindy Moore told AFP in Kabul. Saturday's blast brought the number of Americans killed in Afghanistan since the beginning of the year to 26, including 15 troops who were killed when a US military helicopter crashed in southeastern Ghazni province.

The US president also pointed out that First Lady Laura Bush was currently traveling in the Middle East "to help advance the freedom agenda."

"Her message is a powerful one -- that by working together for liberty, we will create a future of peace and opportunity for women and men worldwide," Bush said.

The "war on terror" is advancing but not yet won: US President George W Bush confident
Sudhir Chadda
US President George Bush sounds more confident...
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