[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.