Dubya's comments on Odai and Qusai's deaths annotated
BUSH: It is my pleasure to welcome Ambassador Paul Bremer back to the White House. I'm also pleased to be joined by Secretary Rumsfeld and General Myers.
Thank you all for coming.
Ambassador Bremer is doing a fine job in an essential cause.
The nations in our coalition are determined to help the Iraqi people recover from years of tyranny. And we're determined to help build a free and sovereign and democratic nation.
Free and sovereign and democratic as long as it does exactly what we want The coalition provisional authority, led by Ambassador Bremer, has a comprehensive strategy to move Iraq toward a future that is secure and prosperous. We're carrying out that strategy for the good of Iraq, for the peace of the region and for the security of the United States and our friends.
Could somebody share the comprehensive strategy with the American people? Saddam Hussein's regime spent more than three decades oppressing Iraq's people, attacking Iraq's neighbors and threatening the world's peace. The regime tortured at home, promoted terror abroad and armed in secret.
Everybody agrees that Saddam was an evil guy. But sadly, there are evil guys in our coalition of the bribed Now with the regime of Saddam Hussein gone forever, a few remaining holdouts are trying to prevent the advance of order and freedom. They are targeting our success in rebuilding Iraq. They're killing new police graduates. They're shooting at people who are guarding the universities, power plants and oil facilities.
These killers are the enemies of Iraq's people. They operate mainly in a few areas of the country. And wherever they operate, they are being hunted, and they will be defeated.
Our military forces are on the offensive. They're working with the newly free Iraqi people to destroy the remnants of the old regime and their terrorist allies.
And the results are? Has our work reduced the number of attacks on American troops? Have we brought any of these killers to justice? Yesterday, in the city of Mosul, the careers of two of the regime's chief henchmen came to an end. Saddam Hussein's sons were responsible for torture, maiming and murder of countless Iraqis.
Now more than ever all Iraqis can know that the former regime is gone and will not be coming back.
Saddam lost his sons, but he is probably still alive. How does the death of his sons effect Saddam's ability to come back? As our work continues we know that our coalition forces are serving under difficult circumstances.
Our nation will give those who wear its uniform all the tools and support they need to complete their mission. We are eternally grateful for the bravery of our troops, for their sacrifices, and for the sacrifices of their families.
The families of our service men and women can take comfort in knowing that their sons and daughters and moms and dads are serving a cause that is noble and just and vital to the security of the United States.
Yeah, occupying a country after an illegal invasion based upon lies told the American public is what I call noble and just A free, democratic, peaceful Iraq will not threaten America or our friends with illegal weapons. A free Iraq will not be a training ground for terrorists or a funnel of money to terrorists, or provide weapons to terrorists who would willingly use them to strike our country or our allies.
How does Dubya know what a free and democratic Iraq will do? I mean, if it is the will of the people to have a theocratic government like Iran, who do we know that government will act in the way we want and not act like the government of Iran? A free Iraq will not destabilize the Middle East. A free Iraq can set a hopeful example to the entire region and lead other nations to choose freedom.
Like the great example Afghanistan has been setting? And as the pursuits of freedom replace hatred and resentment and terror in the Middle East, the American people will be more secure.
Gee, the Iraqi people seem to be hating us more each and every day America has assumed great responsibilities for Iraq's future. Yet we do not bear these responsibilities alone. Nineteen nations are providing more than 13,000 troops to help stabilize Iraq and additional forces will soon arrive.
Of course, Britian is providing like 12,990 of the 13,000. And don't ask how the other 18 are - we won't tell you More than two dozen nations have pledged funds that will go directly toward relief and reconstruction efforts.
Of course, the amount pledged is tiny compared to the amount needed Every day we're renovating schools for the new school year. We're restoring the damaged water, electrical and communication systems.
But Saddam did it a whole lot faster after Gulf War I than we are doing now And when we introduce a new Iraqi currency later this year, it will be the first time in 12 years that the whole country is using the same currency.
Gee, why didn't we do this right after we invaded instead of printing currency with Saddam's picture on it? Our greatest ally in the vital work of stabilizing and rebuilding a democratic and prosperous Iraq is the Iraqi people themselves. Our goal is to turn over authority to Iraqis as quickly as possible.
Just as soon as they freely and democratically agree to do everything we tell them Coalition authorities are training Iraqi police forces to help patrol Iraqi cities and villages. Ambassador Bremer and General Abizaid are working to establish as quickly as possible a new Iraqi civilian defense force to help protect supply convoys and power plants and ammunition depots. Offices have been established in major Iraqi cities to recruit soldiers for a new Iraqi army that will defend the people of Iraq instead of terrorizing them.
Hey, didn't we try that strategy in Vietnam? Most importantly, 10 days ago, Iraqis formed a new governing council. The council represents of all Iraq's diverse groups and it has given responsible positions to religious authorities and to women. The council is naming ministers to establish control over Iraq's ministries and council is drawing up a new budget. The process of drafting a constitution will soon be under way, and this will prepare the way for elections.
But so far, they haven't been able to make a single decision beyond sending a few people to the UN Yesterday in New York, members of Iraq's governing council participated in the meeting of the United Nations Security Council. They heard a report from U.N. Secretary General Annan which welcomed the establishment of the Iraqi governing council as a broadly representative Iraqi partner with whom the U.N. and the international community can engage to build Iraq's future.
Now that we have reached this important milestone, I urge the nations of the world to contribute military and financially toward fulfilling Security Council Resolution 1483's vision of a free and secure Iraq.
Just write a check to the US Treasury at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC. Seriously, no country is going to make a meaningful contribution as long as we demand that we run the show The U.N. report also urges a swift return to full Iraqi sovereignty. And this morning Ambassador Bremer briefed me on our strategy to accelerate progress toward this goal.
Are the two compatible? He outlined a comprehensive plan for action, for bringing greater security, essential services, economic development and democracy to the Iraqi people. The plan sets out ambitious timetables and clear benchmarks to measure progress and practical methods for achieving results.
Sounds great. And that plan is...? Rebuilding Iraq will require a sustained commitment.
Can you tell us yet how much of a $$$ commitment? America and our partners kept our promise to remove the dictator and the threat he posed not only to the Iraqi people, but to the world. We also keep our promise to destroy every remnant of that regime and to help the people of Iraq to govern themselves in freedom.
And we are doing this be appointing former generals and former Baath party as governors In the 83 days since I announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq, we have made progress--steady progress in restoring hope in a nation beaten down by decades of tyranny.
Mission Still Accomplished! Ambassador Bremer is showing great skill and resourcefulness, and is demonstrating fine leadership and the great values of our country.
Mr. Ambassador, thank you for what you're doing for America.
6:50:07 AM 
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