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12 April 2003

Bush Says Terror Regime, Statues of Saddam Hussein Falling Away

(President stresses goodwill, friendship in April 12 radio address)
(800)
The terror regime of Saddam Hussein, like his statues, are falling
away, and millions of Iraqis feel as though their country is finally
being returned to them, President George Bush said in his weekly radio
address to the nation on April 12.
"The nightmare of Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq is ending," Bush said.
"Soon, the good and gifted people of Iraq will be free to choose their
leaders who respect their rights and reflect their character. In all
that is to come, they will have the goodwill of the entire world. And
they will have the friendship of the people of the United States."
Bush related several anecdotes of the liberation of Baghdad. In one
case, U.S. Marines freed more than 100 children who had been jailed
for refusing to join the Baath Party Youth Organization. In another
instance, a man said simply, "I'm 49, but I never lived a single day.
Only now will I start living."
Like people everywhere, Iraqis "resent oppression and welcome their
own freedom," Bush said. "The human heart desires the same good
things: dignity, liberty, and a chance to build a better life."
Following is a transcript of President Bush's Radio Address to the
Nation for April 12, 2003:
(begin transcript)THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press Secretary April 12, 2003
RADIO ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Over the last several days, the world has
watched as the regime of Saddam Hussein began passing into history. We
will always remember the first images of a nation released from
decades of tyranny and fear. The conflict continues in Iraq, and our
military may still face hard fighting. Yet the statues of the dictator
and all the works of his terror regime are falling away.
From the beginning and to this very hour, members of the American and
coalition forces have conducted themselves with all the skill and
honor we expect of them. Our enemies have seen their valor. The people
of Iraq are seeing their compassion as our military provides food,
water and medical treatment to all in need, including captured Iraqi
soldiers. As Army Master Sergeant Howard Kutcher of Delaware said of
his service in the Middle East, "I am not here to conquer. I am here
to help."
In one city, American soldiers encountered a crowd of Iraqi citizens
who thought our troops were about to storm a nearby mosque. Just then,
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Hughes ordered his men to get down on one
knee and point their weapons to the ground. This gesture of respect
helped defuse a dangerous situation and made our peaceful intentions
clear.
Coalition forces have also come upon scenes that explain why fear runs
so deep among the Iraqi people. In Baghdad on Tuesday, U.S. Marines
helped to free more than 100 children who, according to one report,
had been jailed for refusing to join the dictator's Baath Party Youth
Organization. Malnourished and wearing rags, the children were
overjoyed to see their parents and our liberating forces. In the words
of Lieutenant Colonel Fred Padilla, commander of the 1st Battalion,
5th Marines, "The children just streamed out of the gates and their
parents just started to embrace us." "Hundreds of kids," he said,
"were swarming us and kissing us."
As Saddam's regime of fear is brought to an end, the people of Iraq
are revealing the true hopes they have always held. It should surprise
no one that Iraqis, like all people, resent oppression and welcome
their own freedom. It should surprise no one that in every nation and
every culture, the human heart desires the same good things: dignity,
liberty, and a chance to build a better life.
As people throughout Iraq celebrate the arrival of freedom, America
celebrates with them. We know that freedom is the gift of God to all
mankind, and we rejoice when others can share it.
On Wednesday in central Baghdad, one of the Iraqi men who took a
sledgehammer to the pedestal of the giant statue of Saddam had this to
say, "I'm 49, but I never lived a single day. Only now will I start
living."
Millions of Iraqis feel the same as their country is finally returned
to them. The nightmare of Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq is ending.
Soon, the good and gifted people of Iraq will be free to choose their
leaders who respect their rights and reflect their character. In all
that is to come, they will have the goodwill of the entire world. And
they will have the friendship of the people of the United States.
Thanks for listening.(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)