WASHINGTON, June 30 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush Saturday said U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq are defending the freedom that Americans celebrate on Independence Day.
In his weekly radio address, the president said he would celebrate July Fourth in Martinsburg, W.Va., with the men and women of the West Virginia Air National Guard.
He said the holiday celebrates "the courage and convictions of America's founders."
"Today, a new generation of Americans has stepped forward and volunteered to defend the ideals of our nation's founding," said Bush. "Around the world, our brave men and women in uniform are facing danger to protect their fellow citizens from harm."
Bush said U.S. troops in Afghanistan, working with NATO forces, "are hunting down the Taliban and al-Qaida, and helping the Afghan people defend their young democracy."
He said U.S. and Iraqi forces "are standing with the nearly 12 million Iraqis who voted for a future of peace, and opposing ruthless enemies who want to bring down Iraq's democracy and turn that nation into a terrorist safe haven."
The president said the current U.S. strategy in Iraq has "taken the fight to the enemy in Baghdad, as well as the surrounding regions."
"The fight in Iraq has been tough, and it will remain difficult," Bush said.
