    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [June 13, 2007]
    [Page 741]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Bombing of the Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq
    June 13, 2007

        I condemn in the strongest terms today's terrorist attack on the Al-
    Askari Mosque in Samarra. This barbarous act was clearly aimed at
    inflaming sectarian tensions among the peoples of Iraq and defeating
    their aspirations for a secure, democratic, and prosperous country. I
    join Iraq's leaders in calling on all Iraqis to refrain from acts of
    vengeance and reject Al Qaida's scheme to sow hatred among the Iraqi
    people and to instead join together in fighting Al Qaida as the true
    enemy of a free and secure Iraq.
        At the Prime Minister's request, the
    coalition has dispatched a rapid reaction force to Samarra to assist
    Iraqi forces in guarding the mosque and restoring calm and security to
    the area. The United States also stands ready to help the Iraqi people
    rebuild and restore this holy shrine. I call upon the international
    community and Iraq's neighbors to do everything in their power to help
    Iraq's Government and people combat the terrorists, especially in
    stopping the flow of foreign terrorists into Iraq. Those responsible for
    this outrage must be found and brought to justice. The United States
    stands by the Iraqi people in this difficult moment and remains fully
    committed to helping all Iraqis realize their dreams of a peaceful
    future.

    Note: The statement referred to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq.