[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 7 (Monday, February 25, 2008)]
[Pages 255-256]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks During a Visit to the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia

February 21, 2008

    Madam President, you're right; we have met four times, and every 
time, I'm the better for it. [Laughter] I appreciate the warm welcome 
we've received from the people of your beautiful country.
    We bring with us the greetings and best wishes of the American 
people. I'm proud to be traveling today not only with a strong 
delegation, headed by my wife, but also the Secretary of State, 
Condoleezza Rice.
    I'm so honored to be with your troops. I'm looking forward to the 
display of talent and professionalism we're about to see. I thank those 
who've worked hard to help them become professional soldiers, all in the 
cause of bringing peace and security to the people of Liberia.
    Though we're over 4,500 miles from the United States, I feel pretty 
much at home here. In Liberia, you fly the ``lone star'' flag. 
[Laughter] Of course, I was the former Governor of Texas. [Laughter] We 
call ourselves the Lone Star State. [Laughter] Your capital is named for 
an American President, and of course, I am an American President. 
[Laughter] The name of your country, Liberia, means ``land of the 
free,'' and there is no place I feel more welcome than a land where 
liberty is love and the hope of freedom reigns.
    This country was founded by former American slaves who came here 
seeking the freedom they had been denied in my country. Through hard 
work and determination, they established the first independent republic 
on the continent of Africa. The free country they built became a source 
of pride for her people and a strong ally in the cause of freedom. As 
the President said, Franklin Roosevelt came here in 1943 to confer with 
your great President, Edwin Barclay. Together our two nations helped 
defeat the forces of fascism. Together our two nations helped saved 
millions from lives of tyranny and despair.
    In the intervening years, Liberia saw days of challenge and sorrow. 
You suffered the descent into dictatorship and chaos. Civil wars took 
the lives of hundreds of thousands

[[Page 256]]

of your citizens. Yet even in their darkest moments, the Liberian people 
never gave up on the hope that this great nation would once again be the 
land of the free that its founders intended.
    In 2005, you reclaimed your liberty. You went to the polls and chose 
the first woman ever elected to lead an African nation. President Ellen 
Johnson Sirleaf has been a strong leader for the Liberian people. She 
has been a strong partner of the United States of America. I'm proud to 
call her friend, and I'm proud of the work we are doing together to help 
the people of this nation build a better life.
    Together we're fighting the scourge of disease. It is irresponsible 
for comfortable nations to stand by knowing that young babies are dying 
from mosquito bites. It is unnecessary, and the United States will 
continue to lead the cause to eradicate malaria from the continent of 
Africa.
    We're working to lift the burden of debt so that Liberia can achieve 
her potential and unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of her citizens. 
We're working to help the children of Liberia get a good education so 
they'll have the skills they need to turn their freedom into a future of 
prosperity and peace. And today, Madam President, I'm proud to announce 
that the United States will provide 1 million textbooks over the next 
year, as well as desks and seating for at least 10,000 Liberian 
schoolchildren by the start of the new school year.
    Together with the help of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, 
we're working to heal the wounds of war and strengthen democracy and 
build a new armed forces that will be a source of security for the 
Liberian people instead of a source of terror.
    In all these areas, we're making good progress. You know, one of the 
things I've learned, and I suspect the people of Liberia have learned, 
it's easier to tear a country down than it is to rebuild a country. And 
the people of this good country must understand, the United States will 
stand with you as you rebuild your country.
    And you are making progress, and it's possible because of the iron 
will of the lady you lovingly refer to as ``Ma.'' That would be you, 
Madam President. [Laughter] I appreciate the fact that you've ushered in 
an age of reform, and you've opened up a new chapter in the relationship 
between our country. And as you mentioned, it was my high honor to 
welcome you to the White House last year and present you with America's 
highest civil honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
    I'm pleased to visit your land. I thank you for the invitation. I 
thank the Liberian people for courage and steadfastness and enduring 
faith in the power of freedom. With your continued determination, there 
is no doubt in my mind that Liberia will become a beacon of liberty for 
Africa and the world, and you will forever uphold the ``lone star.''
    May God bless you, and may God bless the people of Liberia.

Note: The President spoke at 2:34 p.m.