10 July 2003
Bush Vows to "Stay the Course" in Iraq
(White House Report: Iraq, Kofi Annan) (490) "(T)here is no question we have got a security issue in Iraq and we are just going to have to deal with it person by person. We're going to have to remain tough," President Bush told reporters July 10 at a press availability in Botswana, as he continued his trip to five nations in Africa. More than 30 U.S. soldiers have been killed by hostile fire in Iraq since Bush declared more than two months ago that major combat operations in Iraq were over. Asked how important it is to find Iraq's deposed dictator Saddam Hussein to show Iraqis that he is gone for good, Bush responded: "Having talked to Jerry Bremer, the man in charge of the civilian operations there, he believes that the vast majority of Iraqi citizens are thrilled that Saddam Hussein is no longer in power. "Now, part of the issue that we've got to make clear is that any terrorist acts on infrastructure by former Ba'athists, for example, really are attacks on the Iraqi people, and therefore, the more involved the Iraqi citizens become in securing their own infrastructure, and the more involved Iraqi citizens are in the transitional government, the more likely it is the average citizen will understand that once again the apologists for Saddam Hussein are bringing misery on their country. "The world will see eventually as freedom spreads that -- what Saddam Hussein did to the mentality of the Iraqi people. I mean, we've discovered torture chambers where people, citizens were tortured just based upon their beliefs. We've discovered mass graves -- graves for not only men and women, but graves for children. We discovered a prison for children -- all aimed at -- for Saddam Hussein to intimidate the people of Iraq. And slowly, but\ surely, the people of Iraq are learning the responsibility that comes with being a free society. "We haven't been there long. I mean, relatively speaking. We've been there for 90 to 100 days -- I don't have the exact number. But I will tell you, it's going to take more than 90 to 100 days for people to recognize the great joys of freedom and the responsibilities that come with freedom. We're making steady progress. A free Iraq will mean a peaceful world. And it's very important for us to stay the course. And we will stay the course." BUSH TO MEET AT WHITE HOUSE WITH U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL President Bush will meet with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan at the White House on Monday, July 14, the White House announced in a statement July 10. "The two leaders will discuss a range of issues of mutual concern. The United Nations has an important role to play in international affairs, and the president looks forward to his meeting with Secretary General Annan," the White House statement said. (Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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