    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [October 11, 2003]
    [Pages 1295-1296]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    October 11, 2003

        Good morning. Six months ago this week, the statue of Saddam
    Hussein came down in the center of Baghdad,
    and Iraq began the transition from tyranny to self-government. The goal
    of our coalition is to help the Iraqi people build a stable, just, and
    prosperous country that poses no threat to America or the world. To
    reach that goal, we are following a clear strategy.
        First, coalition forces in Iraq are actively pursuing the terrorists
    and Saddam holdouts who desperately oppose
    freedom for the Iraqi people. Secondly, we are committed to expanding
    international cooperation in the reconstruction and security of Iraq.
    And third, we are working closely with Iraqi leaders as they prepare to
    draft a constitution, establish institutions of a civil society, and
    move toward free elections.
        As part of this strategy, we're helping Iraqis to rebuild their
    economy after a long era of corruption and misrule. For three decades,
    Iraq's economy served the interest

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    only of its dictator and his regime. Saddam Hussein built palaces and monuments to himself while Iraq's
    infrastructure crumbled. He built up a massive war machine while
    neglecting the basic needs of his own people.
        Now that the dictator is gone, we and our coalition partners are
    helping Iraqis to lay the foundations of a free economy. This coming
    week, the Iraqi economy will reach an important milestone with the
    introduction of a new currency. The new Iraqi dinar notes will bear the
    images of Iraq's proud heritage and not the face of a hated
    dictator. For more than a decade, different
    areas of Iraq have used two different versions of the dinar, and many of
    those notes were counterfeit, diminishing the value of those that were
    genuine. The new dinar will be used throughout Iraq, thereby unifying
    the economy and the country. The new currency will have special features
    that will make it difficult to counterfeit. Following World War II, it
    took 3 years to institute a new currency in West Germany. In Iraq, it
    has taken only 6 months, and the new currency symbolizes Iraq's reviving
    economy.
        Iraq has a strong entrepreneurial tradition, and since the
    liberation of that country, thousands of new businesses have been
    launched. Busy markets are operating in villages across the country.
    Store shelves are filled with goods from clothing and linens to air
    conditioners and satellite dishes. Free commerce is returning to the
    ancient region that invented banking.
        With our assistance, Iraqis are building the roads and ports and
    railways necessary for commerce. We have helped to establish an
    independent Iraqi central bank. Working with the Iraqi Governing
    Council, we are establishing a new system that allows foreign investors
    to confidently invest capital in Iraq's future. And we have helped
    restore Iraq's oil production capacity to nearly 2 million barrels a
    day, the benefits of which are flowing directly to the Iraqi people.
        Iraq is making progress. As the mayor of Kirkuk, Abdul Rahman
    Mustafa, recently said, ``Our economic
    potential has barely been tapped.'' We must help Iraq to meet that
    potential. The request I have made to Congress for Iraqi reconstruction
    includes support for important health and training projects. Under our
    strategy, Iraq will have employment centers to help people find jobs. We
    intend to establish computer training and English language instruction
    and vocational programs to help Iraqis participate fully in the global
    economy. I urge Congress to pass my budget request soon so this vital
    work can proceed.
        Americans are providing this help not only because our hearts are
    good but because our vision is clear. A stable, democratic, and
    prosperous Iraq will no longer be a breeding ground for terror, tyranny,
    and aggression, and a free Iraq will be an example of freedom's power
    throughout the Middle East. Free nations are peaceful nations. By
    promoting freedom and hope in other lands, we remove direct threats to
    the American people. Our actions in Iraq will increase our safety for
    years to come.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 9:01 a.m. on October 10 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on October 11. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 10 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 also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.