V.P. Cheney Speaks at Korean War Memorial

[Thanks to a reader for forwarding; this is an excerpt.]

In the course of the struggle, our good ally, South Korea, sustained horrendous losses, both military and civilian, at the hands of the communist forces. Yet so much of the suffering that came to South Koreans in that period of war has been the daily experience of their brothers and sisters in the North for the more than 50 years since. North Korea is a scene of merciless repression, chronic scarcity and mass starvation, with political prisoners kept in camps the size of major cities. President Bush has observed that satellite photos of the Korean Peninsula at night show the North in almost complete darkness. South Korea, on the other hand, is bathed in light –“ a vibrant, enterprising society, a prosperous democracy sharing ties of commerce and cooperation with many nations, a peaceful and talented people who have built the third-largest economy in Asia. In the words of President Roh, South Korea, “once an aid-receiving country, has now been transformed into an aid-giving country that is contributing to world peace.” (Applause.)

All of us look to the day when the light of freedom and progress covers all of Korea, and stability on the peninsula rests on a foundation of peaceful reconciliation. Until then, stability and peace will be maintained by our great military alliance. Tens of thousands of American troops proudly serve in Korea today. We will maintain our presence there. America’s commitment to peace in the region, and to the security of our friends, is unbreakable. The United States and South Korea will continue to stand together in defending civilization against global terror, and building the peace that freedom brings.

(Sound of helicopter.) Must be the President. (Laughter.)

Our people stationed in South Korea today follow in the finest of traditions, going back to the 1.8 million Americans who fought there during the war ““- and the millions of others who have honored this country by their military service. In these early years of the 21st century, the American people have been inspired once again by the bravery and the selflessness of our armed forces. Freedom is not free ““- and all of us are deep in the debt of the men and women who go out and pay the price for our liberty.
—–