[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
[September 23, 2008]
[Pages 1234-1235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks During a Meeting With Members of the Iraq Coalition in New York 
City
September 23, 2008

    President Bush. Mr. President, it is a 
pleasure to be with you, and it's a pleasure to be with nations that 
have helped your democracy grow. A lot of people around the world have 
made sacrifices along with the Iraqi people to enable a country to 
emerge from the shadows of tyranny, become a hopeful example for nations 
around the world.
    I applaud your leadership, Mr. President. 
And I want to thank those around the table for showing courage and 
vision and resolve. Many of the troops of the countries represented here 
have returned home, but they have done so on success. And I want to 
applaud your steadfast leadership and thank the people of your 
respective countries for making the sacrifices so that others can live 
in a free society.
    Mr. President, we've still got work to 
do, but there is no doubt that the situation in Iraq has changed 
substantially. There's no doubt that mothers are able to send their 
child to school without fear of carnage. Oh, there's still killers 
amongst your--in your midst, but your Government has been steadfast in 
bringing people to justice who are trying to undermine your democracy.
    So I look forward to working with you. And I want to thank you for 
being here, and I thank you for honoring those in this room today and 
the peoples of their country.
    Mr. President. Yes, please.
    President Jalal Talabani of Iraq. Mr. President, I am grateful for 
your kind words. And I'm here, on behalf of the Iraqi people, to express 
my deepest appreciation for all countries who participated in the 
breaking Iraq from worst kind of dictatorship.
    Of course, noble and responsible nations must bear their sacrifice 
in order to free the oppressed and bring citizens from the worst kind of 
dictatorship. Nevertheless, on behalf of the people of Iraq, I want to 
express my deepest condolences for your brave soldiers and civilians who 
have lost their lives while standing up for our shared values of freedom 
and democracy.
    Thank you, Mr. President, for your brave leadership and your 
decision to liberate Iraq from worst kind of dictatorship. And thanks 
for all friends and their countries and Governments who participated 
from the beginning to liberate our country and rebuild a new Iraq, a 
democratic, federated, united, independent Iraq, which will help to 
promote democracy in the Middle East and help peace and security in the 
Middle East.
    Thank you again, all of you, and you, Mr. President.
    President Bush. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 7:08 p.m. at United Nations Headquarters. 
The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of these remarks.

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