[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.

[[Page 926]]

    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.

[[Page 927]]