    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 12, 2008]
    [Pages 72-73]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Discussion on Democracy and Development With Kuwaiti
    Women in Kuwait City, Kuwait
    January 12, 2008

        The President. I want to thank these ladies from Kuwait for joining
    me and the Charge. I'm really looking
    forward to the conversation. Laura had met with
    some before and came back very impressed by the spirit and desire of
    Kuwaiti women to be full participants in Kuwaiti society.
        First, I'd like to thank His Highness for his hospitality. Secondly, last night in a
    conversation with His Highness, I said, ``Any regrets about having women
    vote in elections and run for elections?'' He said, ``Absolutely not.''
    He said, ``Our society is enriched by the participation of our women.''
    And he's right. All societies are enriched by the participation of
    women. I happen to believe very strongly in the freedom agenda, and I
    think an integral part of that agenda is making sure that all
    participants in society have got an equal voice.
        And one of the interesting--I think when people look back at the
    history of the Middle East and history of the world, it's going to be
    women who helped lead the freedom agenda. And it's happening right here
    in Kuwait. We've had people here at the table who ran for Kuwaiti
    parliament. And Jenan ran; she said--I told
    her the first race I ever ran, I lost. [Laughter]. And she said, ``Well,
    the first race I ever ran, I lost too.'' But she intends to win next
    time around.
        And so I appreciate you all coming. I'm honored to be with you. We
    want to help. Part of our democracy agenda, of course, is the
    empowerment of women.
        And so thank you for taking time. Doctor, would you like to have a few comments?
        Former Minister of Health Maasouma Al-Mubarak of Kuwait. Of course. First of all, we'd like to
    welcome you, Mr. President. As you probably watched the--our media this
    morning, the media said that we are saying it from the deep of our
    hearts: Welcome, Mr. President.
        The President. Thank you.
        Ms. Al-Mubarak. Definitely, we
    Kuwaitis look with great appreciation to the role that the American
    people played in the liberation of Kuwait, and we remember with great
    appreciation your father role, Mr. Bush. And we call him here in Kuwait,
    Bu Abdullah. That means he's so close to us, and the role that he
    played, really still and forever, we remember it as Kuwaitis.
        And looking to the domestic issues in Kuwait, and especially the
    freedom that we are enjoying, looking to this group of ladies that are
    gathered totally by the Embassy, this is something that you don't have
    as much in lots of the countries and rarely in the Middle Eastern
    countries. Our Government has nothing to do with the gathering and
    nothing to do with this election of the people. And that gives a great
    idea that we speak our minds; we speak our hearts. And we are so glad to
    be with you, Mr. President.
        And regarding the issues, really, that we are having in mind, Mr.
    President, as women and as mothers, we're really asking you, as a person
    and as the leader of the great United States, for to put an end for the
    agony of mothers in Kuwait, for the people, and for our fellow citizens
    in Guantanamo. And we are sure that your human feelings so much with us
    in that, and we need really your role and your assistance in that
    regard.
        And also, as citizens and people from this region, we deserve to
    live in peace. We are looking forward to live in peace. We are really--
    not only in Kuwait, but in the whole region, this region, the Gulf
    region, suffered for years and years from--suffering from the wars and
    the impact of the wars. And we need your assistance,

    [[Page 73]]

    your help, your good will to have peace in this part of the world. And
    as you've played lots of roles in having peace and security in lots of
    parts of the world--you, your father, and the other President.
        Again, welcome, Mr. President.
        The President. Thank you. Thanks.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:03 p.m. at the U.S. Embassy. In his
    remarks, he referred to Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d'Affaires
    Alan Misenheimer of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait; Amir Sabah al-Ahmad al-
    Jabir al-Sabah of Kuwait; and Jenan Boushehri, former candidate for the
    Kuwait Municipal Council.