SECRETARY RICE: Well, first of all, I am so proud and Americans are so proud of these Marines and our men and women in uniform around the world. And I think that if Americans could see how well trained these people are, how they're taking into account so many different circumstances, they'd understand a lot better what people are really facing in Iraq. But I thought it was a tremendous demonstration of skill.

QUESTION: Well, the Marines and sailors were happy to see you. What was your impression today?

FOREIGN MINISTER DOWNER: Yeah. Well, I certainly found them very professional. There's no question of that. The training programs they were going through were impressive. They have to deal with a difficult urban environment in parts of Iraq and they are prepared for that environment. And I think one of the other aspects of it that people need to know is this, that they risk their lives more than they need in order to preserve the lives of Iraqis and they have a lot of sensitivity for human rights and that isn't always well understood. But I was impressed with the -- if you like -- compassion that they show in their training.

QUESTION: Good. I'm going to ask both of you, what's your nation's commitment to the global war on terror; what it's meant to our nation's relationships together? Can you go into that?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, there's nothing like a friend when you are facing danger and when you have to defend and defend freedom and there's no better friend than Australia in that fight. Maybe people don't know this, but Prime Minister Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, was actually in the United States on September 11th. He made certain that Australia was there for the United States. One of the things that Alexander passed on to Mrs. Reagan at the Reagan Library today was a declaration that, in fact, called into force the treaty that we have with Australia so that an attack upon one is an attack upon all. So when times are tough and when you're facing danger as America has been facing since September 11th and, in fact, as Australians and other free people have been facing, it's really good to have a friend and Australia is a terrific friend.

QUESTION: Well, Prime Minister Downer, that's what brought you here today.

FOREIGN MINISTER DOWNER: It is. Look, we've had people killed on 9/11 in the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon and on the planes. We've had Australians killed in Bali in bombings there by terrorists. We've had Australians killed in London by terrorists. And what is our response to terrorists killing our people? Our response is to go after them. And it's not to turn to America and say you do it all, don't bother us with the difficult bits and just politically criticize the U.S. from the side. Somebody has to go after these people and America shouldn't have to do it alone. And it's in our interest, as well as America's interest, that these people are finally defeated. And we work in Iraq and in Afghanistan and through Southeast Asia with the United States to make sure that these people are defeated and our determination knows no bounds. We will defeat them.

SECRETARY RICE: And by the way, we've been -- we're just following in the footsteps of generations of Australians and Americans who fought in the defense of freedom, because whenever we've had to defend freedom Australia's been by our side, and so we --we're fortunate to be following in the footsteps of a long history and tradition.

QUESTION: Last week President Bush nominated Lieutenant General Douglas Lute to coordinate efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan to work with the State Department, with the Department of Defense. How will this improve the efforts there and back here?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I think -- and I know General Lute very well, and he is someone who has a lot of experience. And what he will do, he will make sure that whatever General Petraeus, whatever Ryan Crocker, our Ambassador, needs, that they're getting it from Washington; that the bureaucracy is not getting in the way, that people are really fully mobilized to get whatever we need to the field, because this is a national effort. This isn't just an effort by the armed forces, although they are bearing, of course, a great cost and great sacrifice. But everybody has to be in this fight. We have diplomats on the front lines who are being mortared everyday in the Green Zone and we want everyone to work together. General Lute will make certain that our efforts are coordinated and I'm very much looking forward to working with him.

QUESTION: And that work from the State Department will be more of a primary goal to work together --

SECRETARY RICE: Well, we are working together. I think one of the things that's maybe not well understood is the degree to which -- for instance, in the Provincial Reconstruction Teams that we have in Iraq or in Afghanistan, we actually have American Foreign Service Officers and Civil Service embedded with our combat brigade teams out in places like al-Anbar or in some of the toughest parts of Baghdad because the war that we're fighting this time is one that can't be won by military force alone. We need to do the security work, but then you have to be able to follow on with efforts to help the Iraqis economically, to help them politically. And so our men and women in uniform, our diplomats, our civil -- civilians, are there together fighting this war, and General Lute is going to help us to coordinate those efforts. But we're proud to serve alongside the men and women of the American armed forces.

QUESTION: And many people may not know that those Foreign Service Officers are there working with the troops. Finally, what would you tell the Marines and sailors that didn't get to see you today? What would you like to tell them about your visit to Camp Pendleton?

FOREIGN MINISTER DOWNER: I'd like to thank them for the sacrifices they're making in the cause of freedom. But they might hear those words from time to time from American leaders, and so they should. But I'd like them to know that around the world, there are foreigners who thank them as well. And without the sacrifices of American Marines and the American military more generally, the world would be a much more dangerous place than it is and it's tough for them. They leave their families and their friends, their home environment, to go to Iraq and Afghanistan, difficult places. Some of them are not returned. So these are enormous sacrifices and we in Australia, we'd like to thank them.

SECRETARY RICE: And I'd like to say that the American people support and appreciate and tremendously admire what is being done here and what's being done by our men and women in uniform around the world. And I know that there are a lot of debates going on in Washington. It only befits a great democracy that we can debate and debate openly. But I don't hear people anywhere who don't send their very great prayers, respect, admiration to our men and women in uniform. The sacrifice, those who've not come back, but also knowing that the defense of freedom is the defense of America's security and that each and every American owes a great debt to the people who are doing what we've seen, these wonderful Marines and sailors do here at Pendleton.

QUESTION: And so now you've seen them up close and personal first-hand, what will you take back to Washington or back to Australia with you? What will you remember most or be able to tell people?

SECRETARY RICE: Oh, I'll be able to say that so many of the Marines here and the sailors looked me in the eye and said, "I'm proud to do my duty." And I looked them in the eye and said, "We're proud of what you're doing." But the morale and the strength and the devotion to country is something that I always take away when I have a chance to meet with these wonderful, young people.

FOREIGN MINISTER DOWNER: I think they're very professional, but they are very dedicated to the task and I was impressed with their morale. I was impressed with their determination to do the job and to finish the job, not only to make sure they're personally not defeated but to make sure that the cause of freedom is victorious. But their morale is good and I was impressed with that.

QUESTION: Well, thank you. Is there anything you'd like to add, Secretary, about your visit?

SECRETARY RICE: No, I think, just that it's been a wonderful visit. And the command here and everybody who greeted us here has just been wonderful. I'm really glad we came and I'm glad I could bring my good friend, the Foreign Minister of Australia, with me.

FOREIGN MINISTER DOWNER: It's been great to be here; incredibly interesting for us. I've obviously been to many in Australia, military bases, and seen our soldiers training there. I was pleased to meet a couple of Australians who are here with the U.S. Marines and they're having a wonderful time. One of them has been twice to Iraq with the Marines and another is about to go in January and they say they've fitted in very well. They've made a lot of friends here and that's important as well.

QUESTION: Great. Well, thank you very much for your time.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much.