    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 13, 2008]
    [Pages 75-80]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
    January 13, 2008

        Dr. Aida, thank you very much for
    the kind introduction. Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and
    distinguished guests: I am honored by the opportunity to stand on Arab
    soil and speak to the people of this nation and this region.
        Throughout the sweep of history, the lands that the Arab people call
    home have played a pivotal role in world affairs. These lands sit at the
    juncture of three great continents, Europe and Asia and Africa. These
    lands have given birth to three of the world's major religions. These
    lands have seen the rise and fall of great civilizations. And in the
    21st century, these lands are once again playing a central role in the
    human story.
        A great new era is unfolding before us. This new era is founded on
    the equality of all people before God. This new era is being built with
    the understanding that power is a trust that must be exercised with the
    consent of the governed and deliver equal justice under the law. And
    this new era offers hope for the millions across the Middle East who
    yearn for a future of peace and progress and opportunity.
        Here in Abu Dhabi, we see clearly the outlines of this future.
    Beginning with the revered father of this country, Sheikh Zayed, you
    have succeeded in building a prosperous society out of the desert. You
    have opened your doors to the world economy. You have encouraged women
    to contribute to the development of your nation, and they have occupied
    some of your highest ministerial posts. You have held historic elections
    for the Federal National Council. You have shown the world a model of a
    Muslim state that is tolerant toward people of other faiths. I'm proud
    to stand in a nation where the people have an opportunity to build a
    better future for themselves and their families. Thank you for your warm
    hospitality.
        In my country, we speak of these developments as the advance of
    freedom. Others may call it the advance of justice. Yet whatever term we
    use, the ideal is the same. In a free and just society, every person is
    treated with dignity. In a free and just society, leaders are
    accountable to those they govern. And in a free and just society,
    individuals can rise as far as their talents and hard work will take
    them.
        For decades, the people of this region saw their desire for liberty
    and justice denied at home and dismissed abroad in the name of
    stability. Today, your aspirations are threatened by violent extremists
    who murder the innocent in pursuit of power. These extremists have
    hijacked the noble religion of Islam and seek to impose their
    totalitarian ideology on millions. They hate freedom and they hate
    democracy because it fosters religious tolerance and allows people to
    chart their own future. They hate your government because it does not
    share their dark vision. They hate the United States because they know
    we stand with you in opposition to their brutal ambitions. And
    everywhere they go, they use murder and fear to foment instability to
    advance their aims.
        One cause of instability is the extremists supported and embodied by
    the regime

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    that sits in Tehran. Iran is today the world's leading state sponsor of
    terror. It sends hundreds of millions of dollars to extremists around
    the world, while its own people face repression and economic hardship at
    home. It undermines Lebanese hopes for peace by arming and aiding the
    terrorist group Hizballah. It subverts the hopes for peace in other
    parts of the region by funding terrorist groups like Hamas and the
    Palestine Islamic Jihad. It sends arms to the Taliban in Afghanistan and
    Shi'a militants in Iraq. It seeks to intimidate its neighbors with
    ballistic missiles and bellicose rhetoric. And finally, it defies the
    United Nations and destabilizes the region by refusing to be open and
    transparent about its nuclear programs and ambitions. Iran's actions
    threaten the security of nations everywhere. So the United States is
    strengthening our longstanding security commitments with our friends in
    the Gulf and rallying friends around the world to confront this danger,
    before it is too late.
        The other major cause of instability is the extremists embodied by
    Al Qaida and its affiliates. On September 11th, 2001, Al Qaida murdered
    nearly 3,000 people on America's home soil. Some of the victims that day
    were innocent Muslims. And since then, Al Qaida and its allies have
    killed many more Muslims here in the Middle East, including women and
    children. In Afghanistan under the Taliban, on Iraq's Anbar Province,
    they ruled by intimidation and murder. Their goal is to impose that same
    dark rule across the Middle East. So they seek to topple your
    governments, acquire weapons of mass destruction, and drive a wedge
    between the people of the United States and the people of the Middle
    East. And they will fail. The United States joins you in your commitment
    to the freedom and security of this region, and we will not abandon you
    to terrorists or extremists.
        The fight against the forces of extremism is the great ideological
    struggle of our time. And in this fight, our nations have a weapon more
    powerful than bombs or bullets. It is the desire for freedom and justice
    written into our hearts by Almighty God, and no terrorists or tyrant can
    take that away.
        We see this desire in the 12 million Iraqis who dipped their fingers
    in purple ink as they voted in defiance of Al Qaida. We see the desire
    in the Palestinians who elected a President committed to peace and reconciliation. We see this
    desire in the thousands of Lebanese whose protests helped rid their
    country of a foreign occupier. And we see this desire in the brave
    dissidents and journalists who speak out against terror and oppression
    and injustice. We see this desire in the ordinary people across the
    Middle East who are sick of violence, who are sick of corruption, sick
    of empty promises, and who choose a free future whenever they are given
    a chance.
        We also see leaders across this region beginning to respond to the
    desires of their people and take the steps that will help enhance the
    stability and prosperity of their nations. The recent elections to your
    Federal National Council represent the first part of a larger reform
    designed to make your government more modern and more representative.
    Algeria held its first competitive Presidential elections. Kuwait held
    elections in which women were allowed to vote and hold office for the
    first time. Citizens have voted in municipal elections in Saudi Arabia,
    in competitive parliamentary elections in Jordan and Morocco and
    Bahrain, and in a multiparty Presidential election in Yemen. Across the
    world, the majority of Muslim people live in a free and democratic
    society, and the people of the Middle East must continue to work for the
    day where that is also true of the lands that Islam first called home.
        As freedom and justice advance in this part of the world, elections
    are important, but they're only a start. Free and just societies require
    strong civic institutions, such as houses of worship, universities,
    professional associations, local governments, and

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    community groups. Free and just societies require habits of self-
    government that contribute to the rule of law. And free and just
    societies ultimately depend on the emergence of an engaged public whose
    citizens feel they have a real stake in their nation's future. All these
    developments contribute to the bond between government and the governed,
    between a people and their nation.
        Free and just societies also create opportunities for their
    citizens. This opportunity begins with economic growth. In any society,
    the greatest resource is not the oil in the ground or the minerals
    beneath the soil; it is the skills and talents of the people, or as one
    Nobel-winning economist calls this, human
    capital. Across this region, you have an abundance of human capital in
    the men and women who are your citizens. By strengthening your education
    systems and opening your economies, you will unlock their potential,
    create vibrant and entrepreneurial societies, and usher in a new era
    where people have confidence that tomorrow will bring more opportunities
    than today.
        In the last few years, the nations of this region have made some
    great progress. The World Bank reports that economic growth is strong,
    and it is rising. Saudi Arabia has joined the World Trade Organization.
    Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, and Morocco have signed free trade agreements
    with the United States. Your nations are attracting more foreign
    investment. Oil accounts for much of the economic growth here, but the
    nations of the Middle East are now investing in their people and
    building infrastructure and opening the door to foreign trade and
    investment.
        America supports you in these efforts. We believe that trade and
    investment is the key to the future of hope and opportunity. We also
    believe that as we demand you open your markets, we should open ours as
    well. We're encouraged by the movement toward economic freedom that
    we're seeing across the Middle East.
        Unfortunately, amid some steps forward in this region, we've also
    seen some setbacks. You cannot build trust when you hold an election
    where opposition candidates find themselves harassed or in prison. You
    cannot expect people to believe in the promise of a better future when
    they are jailed for peacefully petitioning their government. And you
    cannot stand up a modern and confident nation when you do not allow
    peace--people to voice their legitimate criticisms.
        The United States appreciates that democratic progress requires
    tough choices. Our own history teaches us that the road to freedom is
    not always even, and democracy does not come overnight. Yet we also know
    that for all the difficulties, a society based on liberty is worth the
    sacrifice. We know that democracy is the only form of government that
    treats individuals with the dignity and equality that is their right. We
    know from experience that democracy is the only system of government
    that yields lasting peace and stability. In a democracy, leaders depend
    on their people, and most people do not want war and bloodshed and
    violence. Most people want lives of peace and opportunity. So it is the
    declared policy of the United States to support these peoples as they
    claim their freedom, as a matter of natural right and national interest.
        I recognize that some people, including some in my own country,
    believe it is a mistake to support democratic freedom in the Middle
    East. They say that the Arab people are not ready for democracy. Of
    course, that is exactly what people said about the Japanese after World
    War II. Some said that having an emperor was incompatible with
    democracy. Some said that the Japanese religion was incompatible with
    democracy. Some said that advancing freedom in Japan and the Pacific was
    unwise because our interests lay in supporting pro-American leaders no
    matter how they ruled their people.
        Fortunately, America rejected this advice, kept our faith in
    freedom, and stood with

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    the people of Asia. The results are now in. Today, the people of Japan
    have both a working democracy and a hereditary emperor. They have
    preserved their traditional religious practices while tolerating the
    faiths of others. They are surrounded by many democracies that reflect
    the full diversity of the region. Some of these democracies have
    constitutional monarchies, some have parliaments, and some have
    presidents. Some of these democracies have Christian majorities, some
    have Muslim majorities, some have Hindu or Buddhist majorities. Yet for
    all the differences, the free nations of Asia all derive their authority
    from the consent of the governed, and all know the lasting stability
    that only freedom can bring.
        This transformation would not have been possible without America's
    presence and perseverance over many decades. And just as our commitment
    to Asia helped people there secure their freedom and prosperity, our
    commitment to the Middle East will help you achieve yours. And you can
    know from our record in Asia that our commitment is real, it is strong,
    and it is lasting.
        Today, America is using its influence to foster peace and
    reconciliation in the Holy Land. The Israelis have raised a thriving
    modern society out of rocky soil and want to live their lives in freedom
    and security at home and at peace with their neighbors. The Palestinian
    people aspire to build a nation of their own, where they can live in
    dignity and realize their dreams.
        Today, Israelis and Palestinians each understand that the only way
    to realize their own goals is by helping one another. In other words, an
    independent, viable, democratic, and peaceful Palestinian state is more
    than the dream of the Palestinians; it's also the best guarantee for
    peace for all its neighbors. And the Israelis understand this. Leaders
    on both sides still have many tough decisions ahead, and they will need
    to back these decisions with real commitments. But the time has come for
    a Holy Land where Palestinian and Israeli live together in peace.
        America will do our part. In Annapolis in November, the United
    States invited the Israelis and the Palestinians and other members of
    the international community to come to a conference. And I appreciate
    the fact that your country sent a delegate. It was a remarkable thing, to see a Palestinian
    President and an Israeli Prime Minister address a roomful of Arab
    leaders together. And the result was that the Palestinians and Israelis
    launched negotiations for the establishment of a Palestinian state and a
    broader peace.
        The talks are just beginning, and our hopes are high. At the
    beginning of my trip, I met with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders. I
    was impressed by their commitment to move forward. And by supporting the
    legitimate aspirations of both sides, we will encourage reconciliation
    between the Israeli and Palestinian people, foster reconciliation
    between Israelis and Arabs, and build a foundation for lasting peace
    that will contribute to the security of every state in the Gulf.
        And as you build a Middle East growing in peace and prosperity, the
    United States will be your partner. As we have done in places from Asia
    to Europe, we have forged new relationships with friends and allies,
    designed to help you protect your people and your borders. As we have
    done in places from Asia to Europe, we're helping you bring your
    economies into the global market. And as we have done in places from
    Asia to Europe, we have launched programs designed to help you promote
    economic reform and educational opportunity and political participation.
        The United States has no desire for territory. We seek our shared
    security in your liberty. We believe that stability can only come
    through a free and just Middle East, where the extremists are
    marginalized by millions of moms and dads who want the same
    opportunities for their children that we have for ours. So today I would
    like to speak directly to the people of the Middle East.

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        To the Palestinian people: The dignity and sovereignty that is your
    right is within your reach. In President Abbas, you have a leader who understands that the path
    forward is through peaceful negotiations. Help him as he makes the tough
    decisions for peace. Oppose the extremists and terrorists who represent
    the greatest threat to a Palestinian state. The United States will help
    you build the institutions of democracy and prosperity and make your
    dreams of a state come true.
        To the people of Israel: You know that peace and reconciliation with
    your neighbors is the best path to long-term security. We believe that
    peace is possible, though it requires tough decisions. The United States
    will always stand with Israel in the face of terrorism. And we will
    support you as you work to ensure that--the security of your people and
    bring peace and reconciliation to the Holy Land.
        To the people of Iraq: You have made your choice for democracy, and
    you have stood firm in the face of terrible acts of murder. The
    terrorists and extremists cannot prevail. They are tormented by the
    sight of an old man voting or a young girl going to school, because they
    know a successful democracy is a mortal threat to their ambitions. The
    United States is fighting side by side with Sunni and Shi'a and Kurd to
    root out the terrorists and extremists. We have dealt them serious
    blows. The United States will continue to support you as you build the
    institutions of a free society. And together, we'll defeat our common
    enemies.
        To the people of Iran: You are rich in culture and talent. You have
    a right to live under a government that listens to your wishes, respects
    your talents, and allows you to build better lives for your families.
    Unfortunately, your Government denies you these opportunities and
    threatens the peace and stability of your neighbors. So we call on the
    regime in Tehran to heed your will and to make itself accountable to
    you. The day will come when the people of Iran have a government that
    embraces liberty and justice and Iran joins the community of free
    nations. And when that good day comes, you will have no better friend
    than the United States of America.
        To the leaders across the Middle East who are fighting the
    extremists: The United States will stand with you as you confront the
    terrorists and radicals. We urge you to join us in committing the
    resources to help the Palestinians build the institutions of a free
    society. Help the citizens of Lebanon preserve their Government and
    their sovereignty in the face of outside pressure from their neighbors.
    Show the Iraqis that you support them in their effort to build a more
    hopeful nation. And as you do these things, the best way to defeat the
    extremists in your midst is by opening your societies and trusting in
    your people and in giving them a voice in their nation.
        And finally, to the people of the Middle East: We hear your cries
    for justice. We share your desire for a free and prosperous future. And
    as you struggle to find your voice and make your way in this world, the
    United States will stand with you.
        For most of the world, there's no greater symbol of America than the
    Statue of Liberty. It was designed by a man who traveled wildly--widely
    in this part of the world and who had originally envisioned his woman
    bearing a torch as standing over the Suez Canal. Ultimately, of course,
    it was erected in New York Harbor, where it has been an inspiration to
    generations of immigrants. One of these immigrants was a poet-writer
    named Ameen Rihani. Gazing at her lamp held high, he wondered whether
    her sister might be erected in the lands of his Arab forefathers. Here
    is how he put it: ``When will you turn your face toward the East, O
    Liberty?''
        My friends, a future of liberty stands before you. It is your right,
    it is your dream, and it is your destiny.
        God bless.

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    Note: The President spoke at 3:50 p.m. at the Emirates Palace Hotel. In
    his remarks, he referred to Aida Abdullah Al-Azdi, executive director,
    Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research; President Mahmoud
    Abbas of the Palestinian Authority; Nobel Prize winner and economist
    Gary S. Becker; and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel.