This Thanksgiving, Americans are especially thankful for our freedom, and we are especially thankful to you, those who keep us free.

If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. But our commanders tell me they have the number of troops they need to do their job. Sending more Americans would undermine our strategy of encouraging Iraqis to take the lead in this fight. And sending more Americans would suggest that we intend to stay forever, when we are, in fact, working for the day when Iraq can defend itself and we can leave.

I said, going into Iraq, "We've got to take threats seriously before they full materialize." I saw a threat. I fully believe it was the right decision to remove Saddam Hussein, and I fully believe the world is better off without him.

It's important to reach out to moderate Arab nations, like Jordan and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

We must have the attitude that every child in America - regardless of where they're raised or how they're born - can learn.

I aim to be a competitive nation.

The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror. We've removed an ally of al Qaeda.