[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 16 (Monday, April 19, 2004)]
[Pages 569-570]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

April 10, 2004

    Good morning. This week in Iraq, our coalition forces have faced 
challenges and taken the fight to the enemy, and our offensive will 
continue in the weeks ahead.
    As the June 30th date for Iraqi sovereignty draws near, a small 
faction is attempting to derail Iraqi democracy and seize power. In some 
cities, Saddam supporters and terrorists have struck against coalition 
forces. In other areas, attacks were incited by a radical named Muqtada 
Al Sadr, who is wanted for the murder of a respected Shiite cleric. Al 
Sadr has called for violence against coalition troops, and his band of 
thugs have terrorized Iraqi police and ordinary citizens.
    Coalition forces are conducting a multicity offensive. In Fallujah, 
marines of Operation Vigilant Resolve are taking control of the city,

[[Page 570]]

block by block. Further south, troops of Operation Resolute Sword have 
taken the initiative from Al Sadr's militia. Our coalition's quick 
reaction forces are finding and engaging the enemy. Prisoners are being 
taken, and intelligence is being gathered. Our decisive actions will 
continue until these enemies of democracy are dealt with.
    Some have suggested that we should respond to the recent attacks by 
delaying Iraqi sovereignty. This is precisely what our enemies want. 
They want to dictate the course of events in Iraq and to prevent the 
Iraqi people from having a true voice in their future. They want America 
and our coalition to falter in our commitments before a watching world. 
In these ambitions, the enemies of freedom will fail. Iraqi sovereignty 
will arrive on June 30th.
    In March, the Iraqi Governing Council signed a document that 
protects the rights of the Iraqi people, offers the timetable for 
elections, and paves the way for a permanent constitution. At this 
moment, United Nations Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is conducting 
intensive consultations with a wide range of Iraqis on the structure of 
the interim government that will assume control on July the first. We 
welcome this U.N. engagement.
    The transition to sovereignty will mark the beginning of a new 
Government and the end of the coalition's administrative duties, but the 
coalition's commitment to Iraq will continue. We will establish a new 
American Embassy to protect our Nation's interests. We will continue 
helping the Iraqi people reconstruct their economy, undermined by 
decades of dictatorship and corruption. And our coalition forces will 
remain committed to the security of Iraq.
    Iraq's elections for a permanent Government are scheduled to be held 
near the end of 2005, and the elected Government can count on coalition 
assistance. We will stand with the Iraqi people as long as necessary to 
ensure that their young democracy is stable and secure and successful.
    As we have done before, America is fighting on the side of liberty, 
liberty in Iraq and liberty in the Middle East. This objective serves 
the interests of that region, of the United States, and of all freedom-
loving countries. As the greater Middle East increasingly becomes a 
place where freedom flourishes, the lives of millions in that region 
will be bettered, and the American people and the entire world will be 
more secure.
    From the first days of the war on terror, I said our Nation would 
face periods of struggle and testing. As the June 30th transition 
approaches, we will continue to see a test of wills between the enemies 
of freedom and its defenders. We will win this test of wills and 
overcome every challenge, because the cause of freedom and security is 
worth our struggle.
    This weekend, many of the men and women who serve that cause in 
uniform will celebrate Easter and Passover far from home. In this season 
that celebrates hope and freedom, our Nation remembers in prayer the 
good and the brave people of our military. They are the best of America, 
and America is firmly behind them.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 8:50 a.m. on April 9 at the Bush Ranch 
in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 10. The transcript 
was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on April 9 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.