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July 8, 2004

In the President's Words:
The Rights and Aspirations of the Iraqi People

"We will hand over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government, help establish security, continue rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure, encourage more international support and move toward a national election that will bring forward new leaders empowered by the Iraqi people."
President Bush's remarks on the Iraqi Interim Government
The Rose Garden, Washington, D.C.
June 1, 2004

"We will stand together and ensure that the future of Iraq is a future of freedom."
President Bush's remarks on the Iraqi Interim Government
The Rose Garden, Washington, D.C.
June 1, 2004

"We want a society where – where the men who've suffered so much because of the whims of one brutal man – where their children can grow up and realize their full potential, where the schools work, where the health care system is good."
President Bush Meets with Iraqis who Received Medical Care in the United States
The Oval Office, Washington, D.C.
May 25, 2004

"Our agenda ... is freedom and independence, security and prosperity for the Iraqi people."
President Bush outlines steps to help Iraq achieve freedom
United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
May 24, 2004

"Our coalition has a clear goal, understood by all – to see the Iraqi people in charge of Iraq for the first time in generations. America's task in Iraq is not only to defeat an enemy, it is to give strength to a friend – a free, representative government that serves its people and fights on their behalf."
President Bush outlines steps to help Iraq achieve freedom
United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
May 24, 2004

"Like every nation that has made the journey to democracy, Iraqis will raise up a government that reflects their own culture and values. ...Iraqis will write their own history, and find their own way."
President Bush outlines steps to help Iraq achieve freedom
United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
May 24, 2004

"We must continue to work together to achieve the objective, which is an Iraq which is free, whole and at peace, so people can realize their potential."
President Bush's interview with Al Zaman Newspaper
The Library, Washington, D.C.
May 18, 2004

"Iraq is plenty capable of being a strong, independent nation. And our objective is to help them become that nation."
President Bush's interview with Al Zaman Newspaper
The Library, Washington, D.C.
May 18, 2004

"The Iraqi people must understand that I will not lose my will; that we will help Iraq become free and peaceful; that we will stand with those who want a new Iraq after Saddam Hussein to develop, where mothers and dads can raise their children in a peaceful world, where business and shopkeepers can grow their businesses, where the education system works well, where people can get good health."
President Bush's interview with Al Zaman Newspaper
The Library, Washington, D.C.
May 18, 2004

"Like any proud country, the Iraqi people want their independence. The Iraqi people need to know that our coalition is fully committed to their independence, and we're fully committed to their national dignity."
President Bush reaffirms commitments in Iraq
The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
May 10, 2004

"We have great respect for the people of Iraq and for all Arab peoples – respect for their culture and for their history and for the contribution they can make to the world. We believe that democracy will allow these gifts to flourish."
President Bush reaffirms commitments in Iraq
The Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
May 10, 2004

"Secondly, it's very important for the people of the Middle East to understand that freedom doesn't have to look like America. A free society doesn't have to look like an American society. Free societies will develop according to the cultures of the people in the regions and the Middle East."
President Bush's interview with Al Arabiya Television
The Map Room, Washington, D.C.
May 5, 2004

"I believe that the Iraqi people want to be free. By far the vast majority of Iraqi citizens want to have a life that is peaceful, so they can raise their children, see that their children are educated, have a chance for their children to succeed. The business people of Iraq just want a stable environment for them to be able to run their businesses and make a living. People want jobs. I mean, there are normal aspirations in Iraq that give me great confidence in the future of Iraq."
President Bush interview's with Alhurra Television
The Map Room, Washington, D.C.
May 5, 2004

"And democracy will succeed in Iraq because our coalition is strong, because our resolve is firm, and because the people of Iraq desire and deserve to live in freedom."
President Bush's Radio Address on Iraq
May 1, 2004

"In forums where Iraqis have met to discuss their political future, and in all the proceedings of the Iraqi Governing Council, Iraqis have expressed clear commitments. They want strong protections for individual rights; they want their independence; and they want their freedom."
President Bush's statement on Iraq
The East Room, Washington, D.C.
April 13, 2004

"A free Iraq is vital because 25 million Iraqis have as much right to live in freedom as we do.
President Bush's statement on Iraq
The East Room, Washington, D.C.
April 13, 2004

"As we have done before, America is fighting on the side of liberty – liberty in Iraq, and liberty in the Middle East."
President Bush's Radio Address on Iraq
April 10, 2004

"The United States and our coalition will help you, help you build a peaceful country so that your children can have a bright future. We'll help you find and bring to justice the people who terrorized you for years and are still killing innocent Iraqis. We will stay until the job is done. I'm confident we will succeed, because you, the Iraqi people, will show the world that you're not only courageous, but that you can govern yourself wisely and justly."
President Bush's remarks to troops
Baghdad, Iraq
November 27, 2003

"[The Iraqi Transitional Administrative Law] provides the essential freedoms and rights to all Iraqis regardless of gender, religion, or ethnic origin – including freedom of religion, freedom of speech and assembly, the right to a fair trial, and the right to choose their own representatives. The adoption of this law marks a historic milestone in the Iraq people's long journey from tyranny and violence to liberty and peace."
President Bush's statement on the Iraqi Transitional Administrative Law
March 8, 2003

"For the vast majority of Iraqi citizens who wish to live as free men and women, this event brings further assurance that the torture chambers and the secret police are gone forever."
President Bush's statement on the capture of Saddam Hussein
The Cabinet Room, Washington, D.C.
December 14, 2003

"All Iraqis who take the side of freedom have taken the winning side. The goals of our coalition are the same as your goals – sovereignty for your country, dignity for your great culture, and for every Iraqi citizen, the opportunity for a better life."
President Bush's statement on the capture of Saddam Hussein
The Cabinet Room, Washington, D.C.
December 14, 2003

"Six months ago, nearly all of Iraq's schools were closed, and many primary schools lacked electrical wiring and plumbing and windows. Today, all 22 universities and 43 technical institutes and colleges are open, as are nearly all primary and secondary schools in the country."
President Bush's Radio Address
October 18, 2003

"And in this cause with fine allies, we've got the Iraqis, as well. They care about the security of their country. They want to be free. They love freedom just like we love freedom. Last week, the first battalion of the New Iraqi Army completed its training. Within a year, Iraq will have a 40,000-member military force. Tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens are also guarding their own borders, defending vital facilities, and policing their own streets. Six months ago, the Iraqi people welcomed their liberation. Today, many Iraqis are armed and trained to defend their liberty."
President Bush's remarks to service members and families,
Pease Air National Guard Base-Portsmouth, New Hampshire
October 9, 2003

"Right now Iraq has its own Governing Council, comprised of 25 leaders representing Iraq's diverse people. The Governing Council recently appointed cabinet ministers to run government departments. Already more than 90 percent of towns and cities have functioning local governments, which are restoring basic services. We're helping to train civil defense forces to keep order, and an Iraqi police service to enforce the law, a facilities protection service, Iraqi border guards to help secure the borders, and a new Iraqi army. In all these roles, there are now some 60,000 Iraqi citizens under arms, defending the security of their own country, and we are accelerating the training of more."
President Bush's Address to the Nation
The Cabinet Room, Washington, D.C.
September 7, 2003

"Having liberated Iraq as promised, we will help that country to found a just and representative government, as promised. Our goal is a swift transition to Iraqi control of their own affairs. People of Iraq will be secure, and the people of Iraq will run their own country."
President Bush's remarks to military service members
The East Room, Washington, D.C.
July 1, 2003

"We're helping to rebuild Iraq, where the dictator built palaces for himself, instead of hospitals and schools. And we will stand with the new leaders of Iraq as they establish a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people."
President Bush's remarks on the USS Abraham Lincoln
At sea, off the coast of San Diego, California
May 1, 2003

"One thing is certain: We will not impose a government on Iraq. We will help that nation build a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people."
President Bush's remarks to Lima Army Tank Plant employees
Lima, Ohio
April 24, 2003

"Just days after the fall of the dictator, just days after the people of Iraq realized they were free from the clutches of his terror, the Iraqi people are reclaiming their own streets, their own country, and their own future."
President Bush Outlines Progress in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Boeing Integrated Defense System Headquarters, Saint Louis , Missouri
April 16, 2003

"We will respect your great religious traditions, whose principles of equality and compassion are essential to Iraq's future. We will help you build a peaceful and representative government that protects the rights of all citizens. And then our military forces will leave. Iraq will go forward as a unified, independent and sovereign nation that has regained a respected place in the world."
President Bush's message to the Iraqi People
April 10, 2003

"The Iraqi people deserve to live in peace under leaders they have chosen. They deserve a government that respects the rights of every citizen and ethnic group. They deserve a country that is united, that's independent, and that is released from years of sanctions and sorrow. Our coalition has one goal for the future of Iraq – to return that great country to its own people."
President Bush's remarks to military personnel and their families
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
April 3, 2003

"As we address the immediate suffering of the Iraqi people, we're also committed to helping them over the long-term. Iraq's greatest long-term need is a representative government that protects the rights of all Iraqis. The form of this government will be chosen by the Iraqi people, not imposed by outsiders."
President Bush's remarks with British Prime Minister Blair
Camp David, Maryland
March 27, 2003

"Our entire coalition has a job to do, and it will not end with the liberation of Iraq . We will help the Iraqi people to find the benefits and assume the duties of self-government. The form of those institutions will arise from Iraq's own culture and its own choices. Yet, this much is certain: The 24 million people of Iraq have lived too long under a violent criminal gang calling itself a government."
President Bush's remarks to troops
Macdill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida
March 26, 2003

"We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people."
President Bush's Address to the Nation
The Oval Office, Washington, D.C.
March 18, 2003

"As we enforce the just demands of the world, we will also honor the deepest commitments of our country. Unlike Saddam Hussein, we believe the Iraqi people are deserving and capable of human liberty."
President Bush's Address to the Nation
The Cross Hall, Washington, D.C.
March 17, 2003

"Iraq has the potential to be a great nation. Iraq's people are skilled and educated. We'll push as quickly as possible for an Iraqi interim authority to draw upon the talents of Iraq's people to rebuild their nation. We're committed to the goal of a unified Iraq, with democratic institutions of which members of all ethnic and religious groups are treated with dignity and respect."
President Bush's remarks
The Azores, Portugal
March 16, 2003

"Action to remove the threat from Iraq would also allow the Iraqi people to build a better future for their society. And Iraq's liberation would be the beginning, not the end, of our commitment to its people. We will supply humanitarian relief, bring economic sanctions to a swift close, and work for the long-term recovery of Iraq's economy. We'll make sure that Iraq's natural resources are used for the benefit of their owners, the Iraqi people."
President Bush's remarks
The Azores, Portugal
March 16, 2003

"The lives and freedom of the Iraqi people matter little to Saddam Hussein, but they matter greatly to us."
President Bush's Radio Address
March 1, 2003

"The nation of Iraq – with its proud heritage, abundant resources and skilled and educated people – is fully capable of moving toward democracy and living in freedom."
President Bush discusses Iraq 's future
Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.
February 26, 2003

"The United States has no intention of determining the precise form of Iraq's new government. That choice belongs to the Iraqi people. Yet, we will ensure that one brutal dictator is not replaced by another. All Iraqis must have a voice in the new government, and all citizens must have their rights protected."
President Bush discusses Iraq 's future
Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.
February 26, 2003

"We will seek to protect Iraq's natural resources from sabotage by a dying regime, and ensure those resources are used for the benefit of the owners -- the Iraqi people."
President Bush discusses Iraq's future
Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.
February 26, 2003

"Bringing stability and unity to a free Iraq will not be easy. Yet that is no excuse to leave the Iraqi regime's torture chambers and poison labs in operation. Any future the Iraqi people choose for themselves will be better than the nightmare world that Saddam Hussein has chosen for them."
President Bush discusses Iraq 's future
Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.
February 26, 2003

"The Iraqi people today are not treated with dignity, but they have a right to live in dignity. The Iraqi people today are not allowed to speak out for freedom, but they have a right to live in freedom."
President Bush's remarks to small business owners
Harrison High School, Kennesaw, Georgia
February 20, 2003

"Tonight I have a message for the brave and oppressed people of Iraq: Your enemy is not surrounding your country – your enemy is ruling your country. And the day he and his regime are removed from power will be the day of your liberation."
President Bush's State of the Union Address
U.S. Capitol
January 28, 2003

"As we and our coalition partners are doing in Afghanistan, we will bring to the Iraqi people food, and medicines, and supplies ... and freedom."
President Bush's State of the Union address
U.S. Capitol
January 28, 2003

"No matter what their oppressors may say, the people of Iraq have no love for tyranny. Like all human beings, they desire and they deserve to live in liberty and to live in dignity. America seeks more than the defeat of terror. We seek the advance of human freedom in a world at peace."
President Bush's remarks to troops
Fort Hood, Texas
January 3, 2003

"I believe in freedom for all, and I am appalled by a regime that mistreats people the way Saddam Hussein has mistreated the Iraqi people."
President Bush's remarks in an interview with Barbara Walters
December 13, 2002

"In whatever lies ahead, the United States will remain a friend to the Iraqi people. They have suffered years of brutal repression, years of domestic terror from their own rulers. A new regime would bring deliverance for them. Iraqi resources are abundant, its culture is rich, its citizens are talented. And given a chance, there is no limit to what the Iraqi people can achieve."
President Bush's remarks at a White House reception for veterans
The East Room, Washington, D.C.
November 11, 2002

"Iraq is a land rich in culture, resources, and talent. Freed from the weight of oppression, Iraq's people will be able to share in the progress and prosperity of our time."
President Bush's remarks on Iraq
Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio
October 7, 2002

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