[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
[October 25, 2003]
[Pages 1392-1393]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
October 25, 2003

    Good morning. Last month, I addressed the United Nations and told 
member countries that the peace and security of Iraq are essential to 
the peace and security of all free nations. I encouraged countries to 
help the people of Iraq to build a future of freedom and stability. I 
also called for a U.N. resolution supporting the efforts of our 
coalition in Iraq. The Security Council has now responded by unanimously 
passing Resolution 1511, which endorses a multinational force in Iraq 
under U.S. command and urges greater international support for Iraqi 
reconstruction.
    In recent weeks, leaders of South Korea, Japan, Great Britain, 
Denmark, Spain, and other nations have committed billions of dollars to 
Iraqi reconstruction. This week brought even more progress. In Madrid, 
representatives of more than 70 nations and international bodies, 
including the World Bank, UNICEF, and the Organization of the Islamic 
Conference, gathered to discuss the future needs of Iraq and the ways in 
which other countries can help. And these nations and international 
organizations pledged billions of dollars to aid the reconstruction of 
Iraq.
    This growing financial support will allow us to build on the success 
of the broad military coalition already serving in Iraq. Today, American 
forces in Iraq are joined by about 24,000 troops from 32 other 
countries, including Great Britain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, 
Spain, the Netherlands, Thailand, El Salvador, Slovakia, Hungary, 
Romania, Ukraine, and the Philippines. Coalition forces are helping to 
hunt down the terrorists and Saddam holdouts, 
clearing mines from Iraqi waterways so that aid shipments can proceed, 
and coordinating the recruitment and training of a new Iraqi police 
force, army, and border police.
    Members of our coalition are also showing the compassion of our 
cause in Iraq. We are rebuilding schools and clinics and powerplants. 
The Iraqi people are moving steadily toward a free and democratic 
society. Economic life is being restored to the cities. A new Iraqi 
currency is circulating. Local governments are up and running. And Iraq 
will soon begin the process of drafting a constitution, with free 
elections to follow.
    There is still difficult work ahead, because freedom has enemies in 
Iraq. Terrorists and loyalists of the former regime reveal their true 
character by their choice of targets. They have attacked diplomats and 
embassies, relief workers, and the United Nations headquarters in 
Baghdad, all symbols of the international effort to help the Iraqi 
people.
    America and the international community will not be intimidated. 
Every coalition

[[Page 1393]]

member understands that Iraq must never again become the home of tyranny 
and terror and a threat to the world. So we will be patient and 
determined and unified. America will continue working with the United 
Nations and our coalition partners to finish the work we have begun. 
Having liberated Iraq from a brutal tyrant, we will stand with the 
people of Iraq as that country becomes more stable, secure, and free.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 11:38 a.m. on October 24 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on October 
25. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 24 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.