    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [May 25, 2004]
    [Pages 925-927]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Iraqis Receiving Medical Care in the
    United States and an Exchange With Reporters
    May 25, 2004

        The President. I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi
    citizen who had his hand cut off by
    Saddam Hussein. I'm with six other Iraqi citizens as well who
    suffered the same fate. They are examples of the brutality of the
    tyrant.
        I am also here with Marvin Zindler of
    Houston, Texas. I appreciate Joe Agris, the
    doctor who helped put these hands on these men; Don North, the documentary producer who made a film of this
    brutality, which brought the plight of these gentlemen to the attention
    of Marvin and his foundation. These men had hands restored because of
    the generosity and love of an American citizen, and I am so proud to
    welcome them to the Oval Office.
        I assured them we have a plan to help Iraq achieve free elections.
    We'll transfer full sovereignty. They were pleased to hear that America
    will stay and help with security. We will continue to work on
    reconstruction matters. I assured them I will continue to ask the world
    to help. And they want to vote. They want to have elections. And they're
    going back to Iraq soon, and we're so proud to have them here in the
    Oval Office.
        Again, thank you, sir, for coming.
        Qasim Kadhim. Thank you very much.

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        The President. I appreciate you. Thank you. Please be seated, and
    I'll answer a couple of questions.
        Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated Press].

    Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez

        Q. Mr. President, can you say why General Sanchez is being replaced
    as the top commander in Iraq? Is that in any way related to the prisoner
    abuse scandal? And who is going to replace him?
        The President. Rick Sanchez has done a fabulous job. He's been there
    for a long time. His service has been exemplary, and the Defense
    Department will add further comments to it.
        Mike [Mike Emmanuel, FOX News], welcome. It's good to see you.

    Transfer of Sovereignty in Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, Chirac's office is quoted as saying that President
    Chirac told you that the transfer of power has to be real.
        The President. Yes.
        Q. Can you describe what you may have said to him to reassure him
    that the transfer of power would be real?
        The President. Yes, what President Chirac
    and others have said is they want to make sure that the transfer of
    sovereignty to the interim government is a real transfer. And that's
    what we want. We want there to be a complete and real transfer of
    sovereignty so that the Iraqi citizens realize the fate of their country
    is now their responsibility. And we'll be there to help, and we'll help
    in a variety of ways. We'll help by making sure our security forces are
    there to work with their security forces. We'll help to make sure the
    reconstruction money we have set aside is well spent. We'll help by
    getting--to continue to work with other countries to help aid a free
    Iraq. We'll do what we need to do to help the interim government succeed
    in getting to the period of free elections. And I had a great
    conversation with President Chirac. We share the same goal, a free and
    stable and peaceful Iraq.
        Yes, Dick [Richard Keil, Bloomberg News].
        Q. Mr. President, looking forward a bit to the elections that you'd
    like to see in Iraq, is it imperative for Iraq to end up with a
    democracy? Or are free elections enough to satisfy your aims at this
    point?
        The President. What's imperative is that the Iraqi citizens develop
    a constitution that they can call their own, a constitution written and
    approved by Iraqis. As I said last night, our intention was never to
    have Iraq look like America. Our intention is for Iraq to be free and
    stable and whole, at peace with its neighbors.
        A free Iraq will help change the history of the greater Middle East.
    A free Iraq will show the rest of the world that when people are given a
    chance to raise their families in peace and security, a civil society
    that's stable and hopeful will develop, and that's what we want. We want
    a society where the men who've suffered so much because of the whims of
    one brutal man--where their children can grow up and realize their full
    potential, where the schools work, where the health care system is good.
    And there's no doubt in my mind that Iraq can achieve this great dream
    and vision. And there's no doubt in my mind, some day their children
    will come to America and say, ``Thank goodness America stood the line
    and was strong and did not falter in the face of the violence of a
    few.''
        Listen, thank you all for coming. I'm proud to have you here.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:02 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Marvin Zindler, member, board of
    directors, and Joseph Agris, chief executive officer and founder, Agris-
    Zindler Children's Fund; Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, USA, commander,
    Coalition Joint Task Force Seven; and President Jacques Chirac of
    France.

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