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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

28 March 2003

Allied Forces Will Win Total Victory in Iraq, Bush Says

(Iraqi people will be freed from "murderous" Saddam Hussein regime) (1630)
The fierce fighting currently under way in Iraq will demand further
courage and further sacrifice from coalition forces, yet victory is
assured, Bush said March 28 in remarks at the White House to
representatives of U.S. national veterans organizations.
"The Iraqi regime will be disarmed. The Iraqi regime will be removed
from power. Iraq will be free," Bush told the veterans.
Coalition troops, he noted, are continuing their steady advance toward
Baghdad and are inflicting severe damage on Iraqi forces. "We are now
fighting the most desperate units of the dictator's army," Bush said.
The United States and its coalition partners, he said, are acting
together to keep the peace, to make the world more peaceful, to make
the United States and other nations more secure, and "to free the
people of Iraq from the clutches of Saddam Hussein and his murderous
allies."
"When the war in Iraq is won, all who have joined this cause will be
able to say to the Iraqi people, we were proud to fight for your
freedom," Bush said.
Areas of Iraq still under the control of the Saddam Hussein regime are
ruled by terror, Bush said. "Prisoners of war have been brutalized and
executed. Iraqis who refuse to fight for the regime are being
murdered. Some in the Iraqi military have pretended to surrender and
then opened fire on coalition forces that were willing to show them
mercy," he said.
"Given the nature of this regime, we expect such war crimes, but we
will not excuse them," Bush said. "War criminals will be hunted
relentlessly and judged severely."
Bush contrasted what he called "the honorable conduct" of allied
forces with "the criminal acts of the enemy."
"Every Iraqi atrocity has confirmed the justice and the urgency of our
cause," he said. "Against this enemy we will accept no outcome except
complete victory."
The President noted that coalition forces have begun delivering food
and water to liberated parts of Iraq, and he said he was pleased to
learn that the United Nations Security Council March 28 acted to
resume food and medical supplies under the existing U.N. program,
which, he said, will bring humanitarian relief to millions of Iraqis.
Following are the President's remarks:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 28, 2003
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
The East Room
2:44 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Thanks for coming, and welcome to the
people's house. It is my honor to welcome distinguished veterans to
the White House. I'm especially pleased to have met with leaders from
the veterans organizations at this crucial time for our country.
The men and women who have worn the nation's uniform set an example of
service and an example of sacrifice for future generations. And the
current generation of our military is not letting us down. (Applause.)
Today's Armed Forces are upholding the finest traditions of our
country and of our military. They are making great progress in the war
in Iraq. They are showing great courage and they are making this
country proud.
I'm honored that Tony Principi introduced me. I'm proud of his service
to our country, not only as a Vietnam vet, but now as the head of the
Veterans Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs. He's doing a really
good job. (Applause.)
I want to thank the national commanders and presidents of our national
veteran service organizations for coming. I want to thank you all for
your service to your fellow Americans. I appreciate your members being
here with us. I'm particularly pleased that Brian Thacker, a Medal of
Honor recipient, is with us, as well. I want to thank all our vets --
(applause.) And I want to thank all the vets who are here.
You're here at a time when our -- the coalition, the United States and
our partners, are acting together in a noble purpose. We're out to
keep the peace, to make the world more peaceful, to make our nation
and other nations more secure, and we're going to free the people of
Iraq from the clutches of Saddam Hussein and his murderous allies.
We are sending a clear signal to the world that we will not submit to
a future in which dictators and terrorists can arm and threaten the
peace without consequence. We are enforcing the demands of the United
Nations, and we refuse to leave the Iraqi people in slavery under
Saddam Hussein. When the war in Iraq is won, all who have joined this
cause will be able to say to the Iraqi people, we were proud to fight
for your freedom. (Applause.)
The regime that once terrorized all of Iraq now controls a small
portion of that country. Coalition troops continue their steady
advance and are drawing nearer to Baghdad. We're inflicting severe
damage on enemy forces. We are now fighting the most desperate units
of the dictator's army. The fierce fighting currently underway will
demand further courage and further sacrifice. Yet we know the outcome
of this battle: The Iraqi regime will be disarmed. The Iraqi regime
will be removed from power. Iraq will be free. (Applause.)
In the last week, we have seen the brutal and cruel nature of a dying
regime. In areas still under its control, the regime continues its
rule by terror. Prisoners of war have been brutalized and executed.
Iraqis who refuse to fight for the regime are being murdered. Some in
the Iraqi military have pretended to surrender and then opened fire on
coalition forces that were willing to show them mercy.
Given the nature of this regime, we expect such war crimes, but we
will not excuse them. (Applause.) War criminals will be hunted
relentlessly and judged severely. (Applause.)
In the last week, we have also seen the nature of the young men and
women who fight on our behalf. Coalition forces have begun delivering
food and water to liberated parts of Iraq. I was pleased to hear today
that the United Nations Security Council acted to resume food and
medical supplies under the existing U.N. program, which will bring
urgent relief to millions of Iraqis.
We care about the human condition of the people who have suffered
under Saddam Hussein. We provided $60 million to the World Food
Program, to help get this humanitarian effort up and running. We're
shipping hundreds of thousands of metric tons of food to Iraq. In
every possible way, coalition forces are showing kindness and respect
to the Iraqi people. They're going to extraordinary lengths to spare
the lives of the innocent. We treat wounded Iraqi soldiers.
The contrast could not be greater between the honorable conduct of our
forces and the criminal acts of the enemy. (Applause.) Every Iraqi
atrocity has confirmed the justice and the urgency of our cause.
(Applause.) Against this enemy we will accept no outcome except
complete victory. (Applause.)
To meet this outcome, we must give our armed services the support and
the resources they require. As veterans, all of you understand the
importance of a well-supplied and well-trained fighting force. I've
asked Congress for a nearly $75 billion wartime supplemental
appropriations bill. This funding would provide fuel for ships and
aircraft and tanks; supplies for our troops in the theater of
operations; new high-tech munitions to replace the ones we have used
in this war. The supplemental would also provide funds to assist in
the reconstruction of Iraq, and to help protect the American homeland
in this time of high alert.
I want to thank the veterans groups for their strong support,
unwavering support, for this wartime supplemental, and I call upon the
United States Congress to pass the supplemental as quickly as
possible. (Applause.)
I also appreciate all the veterans are doing for America's military
families in time of hardship. I appreciate your compassion. Across our
country, local chapters of the American Legion, for example, are
stepping forward to help those families in practical ways, from making
household repairs to helping with child care. Members of the VFW and
Auxiliary are sending care packages with baby supplies to military
families. Operation Uplink Program is helping thousands of service
members keep in touch with their loved ones.
Both the American Legion and the VFW are working with the U.S.A.
Freedom Corps on a project called On the Home Front. This effort will
match Americans who want to volunteer their times and skills with the
military families who need help. Because of all this generosity, our
men and women serving overseas will know that their loved ones are not
facing this time alone.
I want to thank the veterans -- the veterans groups for understanding
the compassion needed to help those who are here, wondering and
worrying about their loved ones overseas. The people who serve in the
military are giving their best to this country, and we have the
responsibility to give them our full support. (Applause.) Our full
support not only here in Washington, D.C., but our support all across
the country.
I want to thank each veteran here today and across our land for the
lifetime of service you have given our nation. I thank you for
standing behind the men and women of today's Armed Forces, as they
fight for the liberty of an oppressed people, for the security of the
United States and our friends and allies, and for the peace of the
world. May God bless our troops. (Applause.)
END 2:56 P.M. EST
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



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