    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [April 12, 2003]
    [Pages 337-338]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 337]]

    The President's Radio Address
    April 12, 2003

        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 Ba'ath 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 good will of the entire world. And they will have the
    friendship of the people of the United States.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10:12 a.m. on April 11 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 12. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    April 11 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his
    remarks, the President referred to former President Saddam Hussein of
    Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary

    [[Page 338]]

    also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.