For Immediate Release
July 28, 2004

Global Message

From remarks by Secretary of State Powell in an interview with Hungarian Television's "Napkelte" Program, Budapest, Hungary, 7/27/04

The United States and the Iraqi people are grateful for Hungary's steadfastness and willingness to stay in Iraq in the presence of continued danger.

Now is the time for the world to come together to help the Iraqi people build up their own forces, so that ultimately Iraqis can take care of security for their nation.

We went into Iraq because the international community had spoken for 12 years to Saddam Hussein's regime, and the regime would not listen. Also, Saddam's regime had used chemical weapons against the people of Iraq and against their neighbors. Saddam Hussein not only intended to develop weapons of mass destruction, but maintained the capability to have them.

The Iraqi people are now struggling for the right to vote and for a legislature. The rape rooms are gone as are the suppression of the Shi'as in the south and the waste of Iraq's resources.

There is a brighter future ahead for the Iraqi people, but only if the coalition stays together and only if it provides the kind of support that the Iraqi people are asking for and need.

Democracy is hard and dangerous. This is the time for us to be steadfast -- not weak. We won't leave these people alone so tyrants can return.