    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [January 18, 2006]
    [Pages 80-81]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Iraqi Citizens
    January 18, 2006

        Listen, thank you all for coming. It's been my honor to visit with
    folks who know firsthand the brutality of Saddam Hussein. These are folks who have suffered one way or the other
    because the tyrant was a law unto himself and was willing to deny people
    basic human rights. The stories here are compelling stories. They're
    stories of sadness and stories of bravery.
        In the course of our discussion, we were also able to talk about
    what a contrast it is between a society which was willing to jail
    people, torture people, and beat people and kill people, to a society
    that is beginning to understand the fruits of democracy and freedom.
        Last year was an amazing year in Iraq. Millions of people went to
    the polls to vote, first in January, then to ratify a Constitution, and
    then back to the polls again to elect a Government under the new
    Constitution. It's a testimony to the courage of the Iraqi people.
    Obviously, we still have got work to do and fully intend to do it.
        And one of the interesting moments will come here this year when
    Saddam Hussein's trial is brought forth for
    the world to see, to see the butcherer, the person who brutalized many
    people or ordered the brutality of many people here at this table, get
    his due justice under rule of law.
        And so I want to thank you all for coming. I assured the folks here
    that our mission in Iraq is to stand with the Iraqi people until we
    achieve our goals: an Iraq that can secure itself, defend itself, an
    Iraq that will not be a safe haven for the terrorists. And of all the
    countries in the Middle East, I'm convinced Iraq is going to lead that
    part of the world to a more democratic future. The Iraqi people are
    brave and courageous and smart people.
        And so thank you for being here. Thank you for sharing your stories.
    I appreciate it very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:50 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In

    [[Page 81]]

    his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. A
    tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.