26 February 2003
President Bush Presents Vision of Middle East Peace
(Speaks February 26 at American Enterprise Institute dinner) (2530)
A peaceful and disarmed Iraq would benefit the Iraqi people and set
the stage for progress towards peace throughout the Middle East,
President Bush said in remarks February 26 at the American Enterprise
Institute annual dinner in Washington.
The regime of Saddam Hussein "has shown the power of tyranny to spread
discord and violence in the Middle East," the president said. "A
liberated Iraq can show the power of freedom to transform that vital
region, by bringing hope and progress into the lives of millions.
America's interests in security, and America's belief in liberty, both
lead in the same direction: to a free and peaceful Iraq."
Bush called on the U.N. Security Council to show its resolve on Iraqi
disarmament. "The danger posed by Saddam Hussein and his weapons
cannot be ignored or wished away," he said. "The danger must be
confronted. We hope that the Iraqi regime will meet the demands of the
United Nations and disarm, fully and peacefully. If it does not, we
are prepared to disarm Iraq by force. Either way, this danger will be
removed."
"If the council responds to Iraq's defiance with more excuses and
delays, if all its authority proves to be empty, the United Nations
will be severely weakened as a source of stability and order," Bush
said. "If the members rise to this moment, then the Council will
fulfill its founding purpose."
The first to benefit from a free Iraq would be the Iraqi people,
themselves, the president said. "Today they live in scarcity and fear,
under a dictator who has brought them nothing but war, and misery, and
torture. Their lives and their freedom matter little to Saddam Hussein
-- but Iraqi lives and freedom matter greatly to us."
Bush enumerated the humanitarian measures that would be undertaken to
provide food, water, medicine and safety to the people of Iraqi during
and after any military engagement.
He said the United States has no intention of determining the precise
form of Iraq's new government. "That choice belongs to the Iraqi
people," he said. "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."
Bush promised that the United States "will remain in Iraq as long as
necessary, and not a day more."
Success in Iraq, Bush said, "could also begin a new stage for Middle
Eastern peace, and set in motion progress towards a truly democratic
Palestinian state."
The passing of Saddam Hussein's regime "will deprive terrorist
networks of a wealthy patron that pays for terrorist training, and
offers rewards to families of suicide bombers. And other regimes will
be given a clear warning that support for terror will not be
tolerated.
"Without this outside support for terrorism, Palestinians who are
working for reform and long for democracy will be in a better position
to choose new leaders. True leaders who strive for peace; true leaders
who faithfully serve the people. A Palestinian state must be a
reformed and peaceful state that abandons forever the use of terror,"
Bush said.
And as the terror threat is removed and security improves, the new
government of Israel "will be expected to support the creation of a
viable Palestinian state and to work as quickly as possible toward a
final status agreement," he said. "As progress is made toward peace,
settlement activity in the occupied territories must end. And the Arab
states will be expected to meet their responsibilities to oppose
terrorism, to support the emergence of a peaceful and democratic
Palestine, and state clearly they will live in peace with Israel."
"Old patterns of conflict in the Middle East can be broken, if all
concerned will let go of bitterness, hatred, and violence, and get on
with the serious work of economic development, and political reform,
and reconciliation," the president said.
Following is a transcript of the speech:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
February 26, 2003
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE ANNUAL
DINNER Washington Hilton Hotel Washington, D.C.
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm proud to be with the
scholars, and the friends, and the supporters of the American
Enterprise Institute. I want to thank you for overlooking my dress
code violation. (Laughter.) They were about to stop me at the door,
but Irving Kristol said, "I know this guy, let him in." (Laughter.)
Chris, thank you for your very kind introduction, and thank you for
your leadership. I see many distinguished guests here tonight --
members of my Cabinet, members of Congress, Justice Scalia, Justice
Thomas, and so many respected writers and policy experts. I'm always
happy to see your Senior Fellow, Dr. Lynne Cheney. (Applause.) Lynne
is a wise and thoughtful commentator on history and culture, and a
dear friend to Laura and me. I'm also familiar with the good work of
her husband -- (laughter.) You may remember him, the former director
of my vice presidential search committee. (Laughter.) Thank God Dick
Cheney said yes. (Applause.)
Thanks for fitting me into the program tonight. I know I'm not the
featured speaker. I'm just a warm-up act for Allan Meltzer. But I want
to congratulate Dr. Meltzer for a lifetime of achievement, and for
tonight's well-deserved honor. Congratulations. (Applause.)
At the American Enterprise Institute, some of the finest minds in our
nation are at work on some of the greatest challenges to our nation.
You do such good work that my administration has borrowed 20 such
minds. I want to thank them for their service, but I also want to
remind people that for 60 years, AEI scholars have made vital
contributions to our country and to our government, and we are
grateful for those contributions.
We meet here during a crucial period in the history of our nation, and
of the civilized world. Part of that history was written by others;
the rest will be written by us. (Applause.) On a September morning,
threats that had gathered for years, in secret and far away, led to
murder in our country on a massive scale. As a result, we must look at
security in a new way, because our country is a battlefield in the
first war of the 21st century.
We learned a lesson: The dangers of our time must be confronted
actively and forcefully, before we see them again in our skies and in
our cities. And we set a goal: we will not allow the triumph of hatred
and violence in the affairs of men. (Applause.)
Our coalition of more than 90 countries is pursuing the networks of
terror with every tool of law enforcement and with military power. We
have arrested, or otherwise dealt with, many key commanders of al
Qaeda. (Applause.) Across the world, we are hunting down the killers
one by one. We are winning. And we're showing them the definition of
American justice. (Applause.) And we are opposing the greatest danger
in the war on terror: outlaw regimes arming with weapons of mass
destruction.
In Iraq, a dictator is building and hiding weapons that could enable
him to dominate the Middle East and intimidate the civilized world --
and we will not allow it. (Applause.) This same tyrant has close ties
to terrorist organizations, and could supply them with the terrible
means to strike this country -- and America will not permit it. The
danger posed by Saddam Hussein and his weapons cannot be ignored or
wished away. The danger must be confronted. We hope that the Iraqi
regime will meet the demands of the United Nations and disarm, fully
and peacefully. If it does not, we are prepared to disarm Iraq by
force. Either way, this danger will be removed. (Applause.)
The safety of the American people depends on ending this direct and
growing threat. Acting against the danger will also contribute greatly
to the long-term safety and stability of our world. The current Iraqi
regime has shown the power of tyranny to spread discord and violence
in the Middle East. A liberated Iraq can show the power of freedom to
transform that vital region, by bringing hope and progress into the
lives of millions. America's interests in security, and America's
belief in liberty, both lead in the same direction: to a free and
peaceful Iraq. (Applause.)
The first to benefit from a free Iraq would be the Iraqi people,
themselves. Today they live in scarcity and fear, under a dictator who
has brought them nothing but war, and misery, and torture. Their lives
and their freedom matter little to Saddam Hussein -- but Iraqi lives
and freedom matter greatly to us. (Applause.)
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. (Applause.)
If we must use force, the United States and our coalition stand ready
to help the citizens of a liberated Iraq. We will deliver medicine to
the sick, and we are now moving into place nearly 3 million emergency
rations to feed the hungry.
We'll make sure that Iraq's 55,000 food distribution sites, operating
under the Oil For Food program, are stocked and open as soon as
possible. The United States and Great Britain are providing tens of
millions of dollars to the U.N. High Commission on Refugees, and to
such groups as the World Food Program and UNICEF, to provide emergency
aid to the Iraqi people.
We will also lead in carrying out the urgent and dangerous work of
destroying chemical and biological weapons. We will provide security
against those who try to spread chaos, or settle scores, or threaten
the territorial integrity of Iraq. 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.
(Applause.)
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. (Applause.)
Rebuilding Iraq will require a sustained commitment from many nations,
including our own: we will remain in Iraq as long as necessary, and
not a day more. America has made and kept this kind of commitment
before -- in the peace that followed a world war. After defeating
enemies, we did not leave behind occupying armies, we left
constitutions and parliaments. We established an atmosphere of safety,
in which responsible, reform-minded local leaders could build lasting
institutions of freedom. In societies that once bred fascism and
militarism, liberty found a permanent home.
There was a time when many said that the cultures of Japan and Germany
were incapable of sustaining democratic values. Well, they were wrong.
Some say the same of Iraq today. They are mistaken. (Applause.) 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. (Applause.)
The world has a clear interest in the spread of democratic values,
because stable and free nations do not breed the ideologies of murder.
They encourage the peaceful pursuit of a better life. And there are
hopeful signs of a desire for freedom in the Middle East. Arab
intellectuals have called on Arab governments to address the "freedom
gap" so their peoples can fully share in the progress of our times.
Leaders in the region speak of a new Arab charter that champions
internal reform, greater politics participation, economic openness,
and free trade. And from Morocco to Bahrain and beyond, nations are
taking genuine steps toward politics reform. A new regime in Iraq
would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom for other
nations in the region. (Applause.)
It is presumptuous and insulting to suggest that a whole region of the
world -- or the one-fifth of humanity that is Muslim -- is somehow
untouched by the most basic aspirations of life. Human cultures can be
vastly different. Yet the human heart desires the same good things,
everywhere on Earth. In our desire to be safe from brutal and bullying
oppression, human beings are the same. In our desire to care for our
children and give them a better life, we are the same. For these
fundamental reasons, freedom and democracy will always and everywhere
have greater appeal than the slogans of hatred and the tactics of
terror. (Applause.)
Success in Iraq could also begin a new stage for Middle Eastern peace,
and set in motion progress towards a truly democratic Palestinian
state. (Applause.) The passing of Saddam Hussein's regime will deprive
terrorist networks of a wealthy patron that pays for terrorist
training, and offers rewards to families of suicide bombers. And other
regimes will be given a clear warning that support for terror will not
be tolerated. (Applause.)
Without this outside support for terrorism, Palestinians who are
working for reform and long for democracy will be in a better position
to choose new leaders. (Applause.) True leaders who strive for peace;
true leaders who faithfully serve the people. A Palestinian state must
be a reformed and peaceful state that abandons forever the use of
terror. (Applause.)
For its part, the new government of Israel -- as the terror threat is
removed and security improves -- will be expected to support the
creation of a viable Palestinian state -- (applause) -- and to work as
quickly as possible toward a final status agreement. As progress is
made toward peace, settlement activity in the occupied territories
must end. (Applause.) And the Arab states will be expected to meet
their responsibilities to oppose terrorism, to support the emergence
of a peaceful and democratic Palestine, and state clearly they will
live in peace with Israel. (Applause.)
The United States and other nations are working on a road map for
peace. We are setting out the necessary conditions for progress toward
the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in
peace and security. It is the commitment of our government -- and my
personal commitment -- to implement the road map and to reach that
goal. Old patterns of conflict in the Middle East can be broken, if
all concerned will let go of bitterness, hatred, and violence, and get
on with the serious work of economic development, and political
reform, and reconciliation. America will seize every opportunity in
pursuit of peace. And the end of the present regime in Iraq would
create such an opportunity. (Applause.)
In confronting Iraq, the United States is also showing our commitment
to effective international institutions. We are a permanent member of
the United Nations Security Council. We helped to create the Security
Council. We believe in the Security Council -- so much that we want
its words to have meaning. (Applause.)
The global threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
cannot be confronted by one nation alone. The world needs today and
will need tomorrow international bodies with the authority and the
will to stop the spread of terror and chemical and biological and
nuclear weapons. A threat to all must be answered by all. High-minded
pronouncements against proliferation mean little unless the strongest
nations are willing to stand behind them -- and use force if
necessary. After all, the United Nations was created, as Winston
Churchill said, to "make sure that the force of right will, in the
ultimate issue, be protected by the right of force."
Another resolution is now before the Security Council. If the council
responds to Iraq's defiance with more excuses and delays, if all its
authority proves to be empty, the United Nations will be severely
weakened as a source of stability and order. If the members rise to
this moment, then the Council will fulfill its founding purpose.
I've listened carefully, as people and leaders around the world have
made known their desire for peace. All of us want peace. The threat to
peace does not come from those who seek to enforce the just demands of
the civilized world; the threat to peace comes from those who flout
those demands. If we have to act, we will act to restrain the violent,
and defend the cause of peace. And by acting, we will signal to outlaw
regimes that in this new century, the boundaries of civilized behavior
will be respected. (Applause.)
Protecting those boundaries carries a cost. If war is forced upon us
by Iraq's refusal to disarm, we will meet an enemy who hides his
military forces behind civilians, who has terrible weapons, who is
capable of any crime. The dangers are real, as our soldiers, and
sailors, airmen, and Marines fully understand. Yet, no military has
ever been better prepared to meet these challenges.
Members of our Armed Forces also understand why they may be called to
fight. They know that retreat before a dictator guarantees even
greater sacrifices in the future. They know that America's cause is
right and just: liberty for an oppressed people, and security for the
American people. And I know something about these men and women who
wear our uniform: they will complete every mission they are given with
skill, and honor, and courage. (Applause.)
Much is asked of America in this year 2003. The work ahead is
demanding. It will be difficult to help freedom take hold in a country
that has known three decades of dictatorship, secret police, internal
divisions, and war. It will be difficult to cultivate liberty and
peace in the Middle East, after so many generations of strife. Yet,
the security of our nation and the hope of millions depend on us, and
Americans do not turn away from duties because they are hard. We have
met great tests in other times, and we will meet the tests of our
time. (Applause.)
We go forward with confidence, because we trust in the power of human
freedom to change lives and nations. By the resolve and purpose of
America, and of our friends and allies, we will make this an age of
progress and liberty. Free people will set the course of history, and
free people will keep the peace of the world.
Thank you all, very much. (Applause.)
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
