    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [November 5, 2006]
    [Pages 2018-2019]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's Trial Verdict From Waco, Texas
    November 5, 2006

        Today Saddam Hussein was convicted and sentenced to death by the
    Iraqi High Tribunal for the massacres committed by his regime in the
    town of Dujayl. Saddam Hussein's trial is a milestone in the Iraqi
    people's efforts to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law.
    It's a major achievement for Iraq's young democracy and its
    constitutional Government.
        During Saddam Hussein's trial, the court received evidence from 130
    witnesses. The man who once struck fear in the hearts of Iraqis had to
    listen to free Iraqis recount the acts of torture and murder that he
    ordered against their families and against them. Today the victims of
    this regime have received a measure of the justice which many thought
    would never come.
        Saddam Hussein will have an automatic right to appeal his sentence.
    He will continue to receive the due process and the legal rights that he
    denied to the Iraqi people. Iraq has a lot of work ahead as it builds
    its society that delivers equal justice and protects all its citizens.
    Yet history will record today's judgment as an important achievement on
    the path to a free and just and unified society.

    [[Page 2019]]

        The United States is proud to stand with the Iraqi people. We will
    continue to support Iraq's unity Government as it works to bring peace
    to its great country. We appreciate the determination and bravery of the
    Iraqi security forces who are stepping forward to defend their free
    nation. And we give our thanks to the men and women of America's Armed
    Forces, who have sacrificed so much for the cause of freedom in Iraq.
    And they've sacrificed for the security of the United States. Without
    their courage and skill, today's verdict would not have happened. On
    behalf of the American people, I thank every American who wears the
    uniform, I thank their families, and I thank them for their service and
    their sacrifice.
        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:17 p.m. at the Texas State Technical
    College Waco Airport. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a
    Spanish language transcript of these remarks.