    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [October 25, 2005]
    [Pages 1595-1596]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Massoud Barzani of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government
    October 25, 2005

        President Bush. It's my honor to welcome President Barzani of the
    Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq to the Oval Office. He's a man of
    courage. He's a man who has stood up to a tyrant.
        He wore this outfit because it wasn't all that long ago, if he had
    worn this outfit and was captured by Saddam Hussein's thugs, he would have been killed for wearing it. He
    feels comfortable wearing it here because we're a free land, and he
    feels comfortable wearing it in his home country because Iraq is free.
        We had a very good discussion. The President was very helpful on the
    current constitution. I assured him that America will stand with the
    people that desire a free and democratic Iraq. The President is--has got
    a clear vision of the future of Iraq, one where different religions and
    different backgrounds--people of different religions and backgrounds can
    live together in peace.
        And so, Mr. President, welcome. It's an honor to have you here.
        President Barzani. Mr. President, allow me on behalf of the people
    of Kurdistan and myself to thank you very much. We in Kurdistan,
    particularly, and also in Iraq, generally, we highly value the courage
    and bravery of your leadership. I hope that everybody would realize what
    the fact on the ground is about Iraq. It was a brave decision that you
    have made. You have liberated a people from a dictatorial regime that
    has hurt a lot of the people.
        At this time we express our condolences, and we express our sympathy
    to the families of your brave men and women in uniform, those who have
    sacrificed their lives in order to make other people free and liberated.
    There is no doubt that if we step back from this and not be determined,
    be rest assured that the terrorists will come to the gates of you and
    us, and they will fight us. Therefore, we have to think about nothing
    else but victory. And I'm quite confident that with your leadership,
    with your support and support of the United States military and United
    States people and also the--heroes of the people of Iraq, in general,
    the people of Kurdistan, we will achieve success at the end.
        For those who are antidemocratic and also those who are against the
    process, they are very limited, and those who are supportive of your
    leadership, supportive of democratic process, they are many, and they
    highly appreciate the sacrifices that have been made by the American
    people and the American army. There are also many in Iraq, in general,
    and also in Kurdistan, all of them are appreciative.
        Thank you.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thanks for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:46 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. President Barzani spoke in Kurdish, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter. A tape was not available for verification
    of the content of these remarks.

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