War on Terror Won't End With Treaty Signing, Cheney Says

[darrels joy]

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service


MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., June 10, 2005 ? The global war on terror is not the kind of conflict that will end clearly with a treaty signing, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told servicemembers here today.

The vice president arrived this morning to meet with senior military officials and to speak on the closing day of U.S. Special Operations Command's annual Special Forces Week.

Cheney commended the military men and women for their hard work and successes, but said challenging times still lie ahead. "It's not the kind of conflict that's going to end with a treaty signing on the deck of the USS Missouri at the end of the day," he said. "It's a conflict that will be with us for a good many years to come."

The nation's adversaries continue to plan attacks against the United States, the vice president said. "And the absolute best way for us to make certain they don't get any of those attacks off, killing more Americans, is to take the fight to them," he said. "And that's exactly what you all have been doing."

Passing along the gratitude of President Bush and the American people to the servicemembers gathered in a hangar to greet him, Cheney thanked them for their "fantastic performance."

"You do a great job," he added, "and our kids and grandkids ... will be a lot safer with the challenges and the difficult duties that you've all accepted."