[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[March 29, 2003]
[Pages 311-312]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
March 29, 2003

    Good morning. This week I welcomed Prime Minister Tony Blair to Camp David, where we discussed the progress being 
made in the war to disarm Iraq, end the dictatorship, and liberate the 
Iraqi people. Thanks to our fighting forces, the regime that once 
terrorized all of Iraq now controls a small portion of that country. 
American and coalition troops have continued a steady advance and are 
now less than 50 miles from Baghdad.
    In recent days, we have cleared mines from the water and taken 
control of a key port city, to allow humanitarian aid to begin flowing 
into the country. We have secured more than 600 oil wells and have begun 
putting out the few oil-well fires set by the enemy. Our efforts to 
protect the wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people are paying off.
    And we have prevented the dictator from 
launching missiles from key sites in western Iraq. We are now fighting 
the most desperate units of the dictator's army. The fighting is fierce, 
and we do not know its duration. Yet we know the outcome of this battle: 
The Iraqi regime will be disarmed and removed from power; Iraq will be 
free.
    In the last week, the world has seen firsthand the 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. An Iraqi 
woman was hanged for waving at coalition troops. Some in the Iraqi 
military have pretended to surrender, then opened fire on coalition 
forces that showed them mercy.
    Given the nature of this regime, we expect such war crimes, but we 
will not excuse them. War criminals will be hunted relentlessly and 
judged severely.
    In the last week, the world has also seen the nature of the young 
men and women who fight on our behalf. They are showing kindness and 
respect to the Iraqi people. They are going to extraordinary lengths to 
spare the lives of the innocent. Our forces are delivering food and 
water to grateful Iraqi citizens in Safwan and Umm Qasr. The contrast 
could not be greater between the honorable conduct of our liberating 
force and the criminal acts of the enemy.
    Every atrocity has confirmed the justice and urgency of our cause. 
Against this enemy, we will accept no outcome but complete and final 
victory. To meet this objective, we must give our armed services the 
support and resources they require. I have asked Congress for a nearly 
$75 billion wartime supplemental appropriations bill. This funding would 
provide fuel for ships, aircraft, and tanks, supplies for our

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troops in the theater of operations, and new high-tech munitions to 
replace the ones we have used in the 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 hope the 
Congress will act quickly to pass this essential measure.
    The people who serve in the military are giving their best to this 
country. We have the responsibility to give them our full support as 
they fight for the liberty of an oppressed people, for the security of 
the United States, and for the peace of the world.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 10:31 a.m. on March 28 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on March 29. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
March 28 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his 
remarks, the President referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.