    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [May 24, 2004]
    [Pages 919-925]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
    May 24, 2004

        Thank you all. Thank you, and good evening. I'm honored to visit the
    Army War College. Generations of officers have come here to study the
    strategies and history of warfare. I've come here tonight to report to
    all Americans and to the Iraqi people on the strategy our Nation is
    pursuing in Iraq and the specific steps we're taking to achieve our
    goals.
        The actions of our enemies over the last few weeks have been brutal,
    calculating, and instructive. We've seen a car bombing take the life of
    a 61-year-old Iraqi named Izz al-Din Salim, who was serving as President of the Governing Council. This
    crime shows our enemy's intention to prevent Iraqi self-government, even
    if that means killing a lifelong Iraqi patriot and a faithful Muslim.
    Mr. Salim was assassinated by terrorists seeking the return of tyranny
    and the death of democracy.
        We've also seen images of a young American
    facing decapitation. This vile display shows a contempt for all the
    rules of warfare and all the bounds of civilized behavior. It reveals a
    fanaticism that was not caused by any action of ours and would not be
    appeased by any concession. We

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    suspect that the man with the knife was an Al Qaida associate named
    Zarqawi. He and other terrorists know
    that Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror, and we must
    understand that as well. The return of tyranny to Iraq would be an
    unprecedented terrorist victory and a cause for killers to rejoice. It
    would also embolden the terrorists, leading to more bombings, more
    beheadings, and more murders of the innocent around the world.
        The rise of a free and self-governing Iraq will deny terrorists a
    base of operation, discredit their narrow ideology, and give momentum to
    reformers across the region. This will be a decisive blow to terrorism
    at the heart of its power and a victory for the security of America and
    the civilized world.
        Our work in Iraq has been hard. Our coalition has faced changing
    conditions of war, and that has required perseverance, sacrifice, and an
    ability to adapt. The swift removal of Saddam Hussein's regime last spring had an unintended effect: Instead
    of being killed or captured on the battlefield, some of Saddam's elite
    guards shed their uniforms and melted into the civilian population.
    These elements of Saddam's repressive regime and secret police have
    reorganized, rearmed, and adopted sophisticated terrorist tactics.
    They've linked up with foreign fighters and terrorists. In a few cities,
    extremists have tried to sow chaos and seize regional power for
    themselves. These groups and individuals have conflicting ambitions, but
    they share a goal: They hope to wear out the patience of Americans, our
    coalition, and Iraqis before the arrival of effective self-government
    and before Iraqis have the capability to defend their freedom.
        Iraq now faces a critical moment. As the Iraqi people move closer to
    governing themselves, the terrorists are likely to become more active
    and more brutal. There are difficult days ahead, and the way forward may
    sometimes appear chaotic. Yet our coalition is strong, our efforts are
    focused and unrelenting, and no power of the enemy will stop Iraq's
    progress.
        Helping construct a stable democracy after decades of dictatorship
    is a massive undertaking. Yet we have a great advantage. Whenever people
    are given a choice in the matter, they prefer lives of freedom to lives
    of fear. Our enemies in Iraq are good at filling hospitals, but they
    don't build any. They can incite men to murder and suicide, but they
    cannot inspire men to live and hope and add to the progress of their
    country. The terrorists' only influence is violence, and their only
    agenda is death.
        Our agenda, in contrast, is freedom and independence, security and
    prosperity for the Iraqi people. And by removing a source of terrorist
    violence and instability in the Middle East, we also make our own
    country more secure.
        Our coalition has a clear goal, understood by all, to see the Iraqi
    people in charge of Iraq for the first time in generations. America's
    task in Iraq is not only to defeat an enemy; it is to give strength to a
    friend, a free, representative government that serves its people and
    fights on their behalf. And the sooner this goal is achieved, the sooner
    our job will be done.
        There are five steps in our plan to help Iraq achieve democracy and
    freedom. We will hand over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government,
    help establish security, continue rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure,
    encourage more international support, and move toward a national
    election that will bring forward new leaders empowered by the Iraqi
    people.
        The first of these steps will occur next month, when our coalition
    will transfer full sovereignty to a government of Iraqi citizens who
    will prepare the way for national elections. On June 30th, the Coalition
    Provisional Authority will cease to exist and will not be replaced. The
    occupation will end, and Iraqis will govern their own affairs. America's
    Ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte, will
    present his credentials to the new President of Iraq. Our Embassy

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    in Baghdad will have the same purpose as any other American Embassy, to
    assure good relations with a sovereign nation. America and other
    countries will continue to provide technical experts to help Iraq's
    ministries of government, but these ministries will report to Iraq's new
    Prime Minister.
        The United Nations special envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, is now consulting with a broad spectrum of Iraqis to
    determine the composition of this interim government. The special envoy
    intends to put forward the names of interim government officials this
    week. In addition to a President, two Vice Presidents, and a Prime
    Minister, 26 Iraqi ministers will oversee government departments from
    health to justice to defense. This new government will be advised by a
    national council, which will be chosen in July by Iraqis representing
    their country's diversity. This interim government will exercise full
    sovereignty until national elections are held. America fully supports
    Mr. Brahimi's efforts, and I have instructed the Coalition Provisional
    Authority to assist him in every way possible.
        In preparation for sovereignty, many functions of government have
    already been transferred. Twelve government ministries are currently
    under the direct control of Iraqis. The Ministry of Education, for
    example, is out of the propaganda business and is now concerned with
    educating Iraqi children. Under the direction of Dr. Aladin al-
    Alwan, the Ministry has
    trained more than 30,000 teachers and supervisors for the schools of a
    new Iraq.
        All along, some have questioned whether the Iraqi people are ready
    for self-government or want it. And all along, the Iraqi people have
    given their answer. In settings where Iraqis have met to discuss their
    country's future, they have endorsed representative government, and they
    are practicing representative government. Many of Iraq's cities and
    towns now have elected town councils and city governments, and beyond
    the violence, a civil society is emerging.
        The June 30th transfer of sovereignty is an essential commitment of
    our strategy. Iraqis are proud people who resent foreign control of
    their affairs, just as we would. After decades under the
    tyrant, they are also reluctant to trust
    authority. By keeping our promise on June 30th, the coalition will
    demonstrate that we have no interest in occupation. And full sovereignty
    will give Iraqis a direct interest in the success of their own
    government. Iraqis will know that when they build a school or repair a
    bridge, they're not working for the Coalition Provisional Authority;
    they are working for themselves. And when they patrol the streets of
    Baghdad or engage radical militias, they will be fighting for their own
    country.
        The second step in the plan for Iraqi democracy is to help establish
    the stability and security that democracy requires. Coalition forces and
    the Iraqi people have the same enemies, the terrorists, illegal militia,
    and Saddam loyalists who stand between the
    Iraqi people and their future as a free nation. Working as allies, we
    will defend Iraq and defeat these enemies.
        America will provide forces and support necessary for achieving
    these goals. Our commanders had estimated that a troop level below
    115,000 would be sufficient at this point in the conflict. Given the
    recent increase in violence, we'll maintain our troop level at the
    current 138,000 as long as necessary. This has required extended duty
    for the 1st Armored Division and the 2d Light Cavalry Regiment, 20,000
    men and women who were scheduled to leave Iraq in April. Our Nation
    appreciates their hard work and sacrifice, and they can know that they
    will be heading home soon. General Abizaid
    and other commanders in Iraq are constantly assessing the level of
    troops they need to fulfill the mission. If they need more troops, I
    will send them. The mission of our forces in Iraq is demanding

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    and dangerous. Our troops are showing exceptional skill and courage. I
    thank them for their sacrifices and their duty.
        In the city of Fallujah, there's been considerable violence by
    Saddam loyalists and foreign fighters,
    including the murder of four American contractors. American soldiers and
    marines could have used overwhelming force. Our commanders, however,
    consulted with Iraq's Governing Council and local officials and
    determined that massive strikes against the enemy would alienate the
    local population and increase support for the insurgency, so we have
    pursued a different approach. We're making security a shared
    responsibility in Fallujah. Coalition commanders have worked with local
    leaders to create an all-Iraqi security force, which is now patrolling
    the city. Our soldiers and marines will continue to disrupt enemy
    attacks on our supply routes, conduct joint patrols with Iraqis to
    destroy bomb factories and safe houses, and kill or capture any enemy.
        We want Iraqi forces to gain experience and confidence in dealing
    with their country's enemies. We want the Iraqi people to know that we
    trust their growing capabilities, even as we help build them. At the
    same time, Fallujah must cease to be a sanctuary for the enemy, and
    those responsible for terrorism will be held to account.
        In the cities of Najaf and Karbala and Kufa, most of the violence
    has been incited by a young radical cleric
    who commands an illegal militia. These enemies have been hiding behind
    an innocent civilian population, storing arms and ammunition in mosques,
    and launching attacks from holy shrines. Our soldiers have treated
    religious sites with respect while systematically dismantling the
    illegal militia.
        We're also seeing Iraqis, themselves, take more responsibility for
    restoring order. In recent weeks, Iraqi forces have ejected elements of
    this militia from the Governor's office in Najaf. Yesterday, an elite
    Iraqi unit cleared out a weapons cache from a large mosque in Kufa.
    Respected Shi'a leaders have called on the militia to withdraw from
    these towns. Ordinary Iraqis have marched in protest against the
    militants.
        As challenges rise in Fallujah, Najaf, and elsewhere, the tactics of
    our military will be flexible. Commanders on the ground will pay close
    attention to local conditions. And we will do all that is necessary by
    measured force or overwhelming force to achieve a stable Iraq.
        Iraq's military, police, and border forces have begun to take on
    broader responsibilities. Eventually, they must be the primary defenders
    of Iraqi security, as American and coalition forces are withdrawn. And
    we're helping them to prepare for this role. In some cases, the early
    performance of Iraqi forces fell short. Some refused orders to engage
    the enemy. We've learned from these failures, and we've taken steps to
    correct them. Successful fighting units need a sense of cohesion, so
    we've lengthened and intensified their training. Successful units need
    to know they are fighting for the future of their own country, not for
    any occupying power, so we are ensuring that Iraqi forces serve under an
    Iraqi chain of command. Successful fighting units need the best possible
    leadership, so we improved the vetting and training of Iraqi officers
    and senior enlisted men.
        At my direction and with the support of Iraqi authorities, we are
    accelerating our program to help train Iraqis to defend their country. A
    new team of senior military officers is now assessing every unit in
    Iraq's security forces. I've asked this team to oversee the training of
    a force of 260,000 Iraqi soldiers, police, and other security personnel.
    Five Iraqi army battalions are in the field now, with another eight
    battalions to join them by July the 1st. The eventual goal is an Iraqi
    army of 35,000 soldiers in 27 battalions, fully prepared to defend their
    country.
        After June 30th, American and other forces will still have important
    duties.

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    American military forces in Iraq will operate under American command as
    a part of a multinational force authorized by the United Nations. Iraq's
    new sovereign government will still face enormous security challenges,
    and our forces will be there to help.
        The third step in the plan for Iraqi democracy is to continue
    rebuilding that nation's infrastructure so that a free Iraq can quickly
    gain economic independence and a better quality of life. Our coalition
    has already helped Iraqis to rebuild schools and refurbish hospitals and
    health clinics, repair bridges, upgrade the electrical grid, and
    modernize the communications system. And now a growing private economy
    is taking shape. A new currency has been introduced. Iraq's Governing
    Council approved a new law that opens the country to foreign investment
    for the first time in decades. Iraq has liberalized its trade policy,
    and today an Iraqi observer attends meetings of the World Trade
    Organization. Iraqi oil production has reached more than two million
    barrels per day, bringing revenues of nearly $6 billion so far this
    year, which is being used to help the people of Iraq. And thanks in part
    to our efforts--to the efforts of former Secretary of State James
    Baker, many of Iraq's largest creditors
    have pledged to forgive or substantially reduce Iraqi debt incurred by
    the former regime.
        We're making progress. Yet there still is much work to do. Over the
    decades of Saddam's rule, Iraq's
    infrastructure was allowed to crumble while money was diverted to
    palaces and to wars and to weapons programs. We're urging other nations
    to contribute to Iraqi reconstruction, and 37 countries and the IMF and
    the World Bank have so far pledged $13.5 billion in aid. America has
    dedicated more than $20 billion to reconstruction and development
    projects in Iraq. To ensure our money is spent wisely and effectively,
    our new Embassy in Iraq will have regional offices in several key
    cities. These offices will work closely with Iraqis at all levels of
    government to help make sure projects are completed on time and on
    budget.
        A new Iraq will also need a humane, well-supervised prison system.
    Under the dictator, prisons like Abu Ghraib
    were symbols of death and torture. That same prison became a symbol of
    disgraceful conduct by a few American troops who dishonored our country
    and disregarded our values. America will fund the construction of a
    modern maximum security prison. When that prison is completed, detainees
    at Abu Ghraib will be relocated. Then, with the approval of the Iraqi
    government, we will demolish the Abu Ghraib prison, as a fitting symbol
    of Iraq's new beginning.
        The fourth step in our plan is to enlist additional international
    support for Iraq's transition. At every stage, the United States has
    gone to the United Nations--to confront Saddam Hussein, to promise serious consequences for his actions, and
    to begin Iraqi reconstruction. Today the United States and Great Britain
    presented a new resolution in the Security Council to help move Iraq
    toward self-government. I've directed Secretary Powell to work with fellow members of the Council to endorse the
    timetable the Iraqis have adopted, to express international support for
    Iraq's interim government, to reaffirm the world's security commitment
    to the Iraqi people, and to encourage other U.N. members to join in the
    effort. Despite past disagreements, most nations have indicated strong
    support for the success of a free Iraq, and I'm confident they will
    share in the responsibility of assuring that success.
        Next month, at the NATO summit in Istanbul, I will thank our 15 NATO
    Allies who together have more than 17,000 troops on the ground in Iraq.
    Great Britain and Poland are each leading a multinational division that
    is securing important parts of the country. And NATO, itself, is giving
    helpful intelligence and communications and logistical support to the
    Polish-led division. At the summit, we will discuss

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    NATO's role in helping Iraq build and secure its democracy.
        The fifth and most important step is free national elections to be
    held no later than next January. A United Nations team headed by Carina
    Perelli is now in Iraq, helping form an
    independent election commission that will oversee an orderly, accurate
    national election. In that election, the Iraqi people will choose a
    transitional national assembly, the first freely elected, truly
    representative national governing body in Iraq's history. This assembly
    will serve as Iraq's legislature, and it will choose a transitional
    government with executive powers. The transitional national assembly
    will also draft a new constitution, which will be presented to the Iraqi
    people in a referendum scheduled for the fall of 2005. Under this new
    constitution, Iraq will elect a permanent government by the end of next
    year.
        In this time of war and liberation and rebuilding, American soldiers
    and civilians on the ground have come to know and respect the citizens
    of Iraq. They're a proud people who hold strong and diverse opinions.
    Yet Iraqis are united in a broad and deep conviction: They're determined
    never again to live at the mercy of a dictator, and they believe that a
    national election will put that dark time behind them. A representative
    government that protects basic rights, elected by Iraqis, is the best
    defense against the return of tyranny, and that election is coming.
        Completing the five steps to Iraqi elected self-government will not
    be easy. There's likely to be more violence before the transfer of
    sovereignty and after the transfer of sovereignty. The terrorists and
    Saddam loyalists would rather see many Iraqis
    die than have any live in freedom, but terrorists will not determine the
    future of Iraq.
        That nation is moving every week toward free elections and a
    permanent place among free nations. Like every nation that has made the
    journey to democracy, Iraqis will raise up a government that reflects
    their own culture and values. I sent American troops to Iraq to defend
    our security, not to stay as an occupying power. I sent American troops
    to Iraq to make its people free, not to make them American. Iraqis will
    write their own history and find their own way. As they do, Iraqis can
    be certain, a free Iraq will always have a friend in the United States
    of America.
        In the last 32 months, history has placed great demands on our
    country, and events have come quickly. Americans have seen the flames of
    September the 11th, followed battles in the mountains of Afghanistan,
    and learned new terms like ``orange alert'' and ``ricin'' and ``dirty
    bomb.'' We've seen killers at work on trains in Madrid, in a bank in
    Istanbul, at a synagogue in Tunis, and at a nightclub in Bali. And now
    the families of our soldiers and civilian workers pray for their sons
    and daughters in Mosul and Karbala and Baghdad.
        We did not seek this war on terror, but this is the world as we find
    it. We must keep our focus. We must do our duty. History is moving, and
    it will tend toward hope or tend toward tragedy. Our terrorist enemies
    have a vision that guides and explains all their varied acts of murder.
    They seek to impose Taliban-like rule, country by country, across the
    greater Middle East. They seek the total control of every person and
    mind and soul, a harsh society in which women are voiceless and
    brutalized. They seek bases of operation to train more killers and
    export more violence. They commit dramatic acts of murder to shock,
    frighten, and demoralize civilized nations, hoping we will retreat from
    the world and give them free rein. They seek weapons of mass destruction
    to impose their will through blackmail and catastrophic attacks. None of
    this is the expression of a religion. It is a totalitarian political
    ideology, pursued with consuming zeal and without conscience.
        Our actions too are guided by a vision. We believe that freedom can
    advance and change lives in the greater Middle East, as it has advanced
    and changed lives in

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    Asia and Latin America and Eastern Europe and Africa. We believe it is a
    tragedy of history that in the Middle East, which gave the world great
    gifts of law and science and faith, so many have been held back by
    lawless tyranny and fanaticism. We believe that when all Middle Eastern
    peoples are finally allowed to live and think and work and worship as
    free men and women, they will reclaim the greatness of their own
    heritage. And when that day comes, the bitterness and burning hatreds
    that feed terrorism will fade and die away. America and all the world
    will be safer when hope has returned to the Middle East.
        These two visions--one of tyranny and murder, the other of liberty
    and life--clashed in Afghanistan. And thanks to brave U.S. and coalition
    forces and to Afghan patriots, the nightmare of the Taliban is over, and
    that nation is coming to life again. These two visions have now met in
    Iraq and are contending for the future of that country. The failure of
    freedom would only mark the beginning of peril and violence. But my
    fellow Americans, we will not fail. We will persevere and defeat this
    enemy and hold this hard-won ground for the realm of liberty.
        May God bless our country.

    Note: The President spoke at 8 p.m. in the Thorpe Hall gymnasium. In his
    remarks, he referred to American hostage Nicholas Berg, who was killed
    in Iraq in early May by senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi;
    former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Lakhdar Brahimi, Special
    Adviser to the U.N. Secretary-General; Aladin Abd al-Sahib al-Alwan,
    Iraqi Minister of Education; Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA, combatant
    commander, U.S. Central Command; Muqtada Al Sadr, Iraq Shiite cleric
    whose militia engaged in an uprising in Iraq that began in early April;
    James A. Baker III, the President's personal envoy on the issue of Iraqi
    debt; and Carina Perelli, Director, United Nations Electoral Assistance
    Division. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.