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Edited on Sun Feb-15-04 11:44 AM by TruthIsAll
Fellow Murikans:
The true strength of America happens when a neighbor loves a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves. Now, there are some who would like to rewrite history—revisionist historians is what I like to call them. I am determined to keep the process on the road to peace. We are making steadfast progress. We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in so doing, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure.
The war on terror involved Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorize himself. Nothing he has done has convinced me—I'm confident the Secretary of Defense—that he is the kind of fellow that is willing to forgo weapons of mass destruction, is willing to be a peaceful neighbor, that is—will honor the people—the Iraqi people of all stripes, will—values human life. He hasn't convinced me, nor has he convinced my administration.
We've still got hundreds of sites to exploit, looking for the chemical and biological weapons that we know Saddam Hussein had prior to our entrance into Iraq. I think war is a dangerous place. One year ago today, the time for excuse-making has come to an end. Now that Iraq is liberated, he will be treated, tried, and persecuted as a war criminal.
Perhaps one way will be, if we use military force, in the post-Saddam Iraq the U.N. will definitely need to have a role. And that way it can begin to get its legs, legs of responsibility back. You're free. And freedom is beautiful. And, you know, it'll take time to restore chaos and order—order out of chaos. But we will.
There's only one person who hugs the mothers and the widows, the wives and the kids upon the death of their loved one. Others hug but having committed the troops, I've got an additional responsibility to hug and that's me and I know what it's like.
The law I sign today directs new funds and new focus to the task of collecting vital intelligence on terrorist threats and on weapons of mass production. These people don't have tanks. They don't have ships. They hide in caves. They send suiciders out. I was proud the day when both Republicans and Democrats stood with me in the Rose Garden to announce their support for a clear statement of purpose: you disarm, or we will.
There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again. There's no doubt in my mind that we should allow the world worst leaders to hold America hostage, to threaten our peace, to threaten our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons.
See, we love—we love freedom. That's what they didn't understand. They hate things; we love things. They act out of hatred; we don't seek revenge, we seek justice out of love.
President Musharraf, he's still tight with us on the war against terror, and that's what I appreciate. He's a—he understands that we've got to keep al-Qaida on the run, and that by keeping him on the run, it's more likely we will bring him to justice. I'm a patient man. And when I say I'm a patient man, I mean I'm a patient man.
I want to remind you all that in order to fight and win the war, it requires an expenditure of money that is commiserate with keeping a promise to our troops to make sure that they're well-paid, well-trained, well-equipped. The best way to find these terrorists who hide in holes is to get people coming forth to describe the location of the hole, is to give clues and data. Justice was being delivered to a man who defied that gift from the Almighty to the people of Iraq. See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction.
I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves. We had a good Cabinet meeting, talked about a lot of issues. Secretary of State and Defense brought us up to date about our desires to spread freedom and peace around the world.
Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to peace. I urge the leaders in Europe and around the world to take swift, decisive action against terror groups such as Hamas, to cut off their funding, and to support—cut funding and support, as the United States has done. My answer is bring them on.
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