[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.