    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [May 30, 2006]
    [Pages 1045-1046]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Receiving Diplomatic Credentials From Ambassador Samir Shakir
    al-Sumaydi of Iraq
    May 30, 2006

        President Bush. It is my honor and pleasure to welcome the papers
    from Iraq's Ambassador to the United States. Mr. Ambassador,
    congratulations.
        Ambassador al-Sumaydi. Thank you, Mr. President.
        President Bush. You're now officially the Ambassador. I look forward
    to working with you, Mr. Ambassador, and the new Government, to help
    Iraq become a country that can govern itself and sustain itself and
    defend itself. I'm confident in the future of liberty in Iraq because I
    believe the people of Iraq want to live in a free society. And although
    there's been some very difficult times for the Iraqi people, I am
    impressed by the courage of the leadership, impressed by the
    determination of the people, and want to assure you, sir, that the
    United States stands ready to help the Iraqi democracy succeed.
        So welcome here to the Oval Office. Thank you for coming.
        Ambassador al-Sumaydi. Thank you, Mr. President. I am honored and
    privileged to serve as the Ambassador of free Iraq, after 16 years of
    isolation, to represent my country to this great country, to have a
    voice for the new elected Iraqi Government, and communicate directly
    with this administration and with the people of the United States, to
    express our ambitions and desire to live in peace and remove the scourge
    of terrorism from our land and help others remove it from theirs.
        The President said a couple of days ago in his radio address that
    the terrorists can kill innocent people, but they cannot stop the march
    of freedom. I echo those words and say that the terrorists can target
    the innocent and the weak and the vulnerable, but they will never stop
    us establishing a democratic and free country.
        I'm proud to represent this country to you, Mr. President.
        President Bush. Thank you, Ambassador. Very well done. Thank you.

    [[Page 1046]]

    Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. A portion of these remarks could not be verified because the tape
    was incomplete.