    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [March 19, 2005]
    [Pages 480-481]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    March 19, 2005

        Good morning. On this day 2 years ago, we launched Operation Iraqi
    Freedom to disarm a brutal regime, free its people, and defend the world
    from a grave danger.
        Before coalition forces arrived, Iraq was ruled by a dictatorship
    that murdered its own citizens, threatened its neighbors, and defied the
    world. We knew of Saddam Hussein's record of
    aggression and support for terror. We knew of his long history of
    pursuing, even using, weapons of mass destruction, and we know that
    September the 11th requires our country to think differently. We must
    and we will confront threats to America before they fully materialize.
        Now, because we acted, Iraq's Government is no longer a threat to
    the world or its own people. Today, the Iraqi people are taking charge
    of their own destiny. In January, over 8 million Iraqis defied the car
    bombers and assassins to vote in free elections. This week, Iraq's
    Transitional National Assembly convened for the first time. These
    elected leaders broadly represent Iraq's people and include more than 85

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    women. They will now draft a new constitution for a free and democratic
    Iraq. In October, that document will be presented to the Iraqi people in
    a national referendum. Another election is planned for December to
    choose a permanent constitutional government.
        Free governments reflect the culture of the citizens they serve, and
    that is happening in Iraq. Today, Iraqis can take pride in building a
    government that answers to its people and honors their country's unique
    heritage. Millions of Americans saw that pride in an Iraqi woman named
    Safia Taleb al-Suhail, who sat in the
    gallery during the State of the Union Address. Eleven years ago, Saddam
    Hussein's thugs murdered her father. Today,
    Safia's nation is free, and Saddam Hussein sits in a prison cell. Safia
    expressed the gratitude of the Iraqi nation when she embraced the
    mom of Marine Corps Sergeant Byron Norwood,
    who was killed in the assault on Fallujah.
        To all the brave members of our Armed Forces who have taken part in
    this historic mission and to your families, I express the heartfelt
    thanks of the American people. I know that nothing can end the pain of
    the families who have lost loved ones in this struggle, but they can
    know that their sacrifice has added to America's security and the
    freedom of the world.
        Iraq's progress toward political freedom has opened a new phase of
    our work there. We are focusing on our efforts on training the Iraqi
    security forces. As they become more self-reliant and take on greater
    security responsibilities, America and its coalition partners will
    increasingly assume a supporting role. In the end, Iraqis must be able
    to defend their own country. And we will help that proud, new nation
    secure its liberty, and then our troops will return home with the honor
    they have earned.
        Today, we're seeing hopeful signs across the broader Middle East.
    The victory of freedom in Iraq is strengthening a new ally in the war on
    terror and inspiring democratic reformers from Beirut to Tehran. Today,
    women can vote in Afghanistan. Palestinians are breaking the old
    patterns of violence, and hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are rising
    up to demand their sovereignty and democratic rights. These are landmark
    events in the history of freedom. Only the fire of liberty can purge the
    ideologies of murder by offering hope to those who yearn to live free.
        The experience of recent years has taught us an important lesson:
    The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success
    of liberty in other lands. Because of our actions, freedom is taking
    root in Iraq, and the American people are more secure.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 3:52 p.m. on March 18 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on March 19. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    March 19 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his
    address, the President referred to Janet Norwood, mother of Sgt. Byron
    Norwood, USMC. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of this address.