[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 16 (Monday, April 21, 2003)]
[Pages 436-437]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

April 12, 2003

    Good morning. Over the last several days, the world has watched as 
the regime of Saddam Hussein began passing into history. We will always 
remember the first images of a nation released from decades of tyranny 
and fear. The conflict continues in Iraq, and our military may still 
face hard fighting. Yet the statues of the dictator and all the works of 
his terror regime are falling away.
    From the beginning and to this very hour, members of the American 
and coalition forces have conducted themselves with all the skill and 
honor we expect of them. Our enemies have seen their valor. The people 
of Iraq are seeing their compassion as our military provides food, 
water, and medical treatment to all in need, including captured Iraqi 
soldiers. As Army Master Sergeant Howard Kutcher of Delaware said of his 
service in the Middle East, ``I am not here to conquer. I am here to 
help.''
    In one city, American soldiers encountered a crowd of Iraqi citizens 
who thought our troops were about to storm a nearby mosque. Just then, 
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Hughes ordered his men to get down on one knee 
and point their weapons to the ground. This gesture of respect helped 
defuse a dangerous situation and made our peaceful intentions clear.
    Coalition forces have also come upon scenes that explain why fear 
runs so deep among the Iraqi people. In Baghdad on Tuesday, U.S. marines 
helped to free more than 100 children who, according to one report, had 
been jailed for refusing to join the dictator's Ba'ath Party youth 
organization. Malnourished and wearing rags, the children were overjoyed 
to see their parents and our liberating forces. In the words of 
Lieutenant Colonel Fred Padilla, commander of the 1st Battalion 5th 
Marines, ``The children just streamed out of the gates, and their 
parents just started to embrace us.'' ``Hundreds of kids,'' he said, 
``were swarming us and kissing us.''
    As Saddam's regime of fear is brought to an end, the people of Iraq 
are revealing the true hopes they have always held. It should surprise 
no one that Iraqis, like all people, resent oppression and welcome their 
own freedom. It should surprise no one that in every nation and every 
culture, the human heart desires the same good things, dignity, liberty, 
and a chance to build a better life.
    As people throughout Iraq celebrate the arrival of freedom, America 
celebrates with them. We know that freedom is the gift of God to all 
mankind, and we rejoice when others can share it.
    On Wednesday in central Baghdad, one of the Iraqi men who took a 
sledgehammer to the pedestal of the giant statue of Saddam had this to 
say: ``I'm 49, but I never lived a single day. Only now will I start 
living.''
    Millions of Iraqis feel the same as their country is finally 
returned to them. The nightmare of Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq is 
ending. Soon, the good and gifted people of Iraq will be free to choose 
their leaders who respect their rights and reflect their character. In 
all that is to come, they will have the good will of the entire world. 
And they will have the friendship of the people of the United States.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 10:12 a.m. on April 11 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 12. The 
transcript was made available by the Office

[[Page 437]]

of the Press Secretary on April 11 but was embargoed for release until 
the broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to former 
President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary also 
released a Spanish language transcript of this address.