[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 21 (Monday, May 24, 2004)]
[Pages 908-909]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

May 15, 2004

    Good morning. This week, our Nation was sickened by the murder of an 
American civilian, Nicholas Berg. The savage execution of this innocent 
man reminds us of the true nature of our terrorist enemy and of the 
stakes in this struggle. The terrorists rejoice in the killing of the 
innocent and have promised similar violence against Americans, against 
all free peoples, and against any Muslims who reject their ideology of 
murder. Their barbarism cannot be appeased, and their hatred cannot be 
satisfied. There's only one way to

[[Page 909]]

deal with terror: We must confront the enemy and stay on the offensive 
until these killers are defeated.
    And this is precisely what our Armed Forces and the forces of our 
coalition are doing. In and around Fallujah, U.S. marines are conducting 
joint patrols with local Iraqis to take back the city from Saddam 
loyalists and foreign fighters and other militants. In nearby towns, 
marines are conducting raids to disrupt enemy attacks on our supply 
routes and to root out anticoalition fighters.
    To the south, in and around the cities of Najaf and Karbala, U.S. 
Army soldiers and Iraqi security forces are systematically dismantling 
the illegal militia led by the radical cleric Al Sadr that has incited 
violence and attempted to seize control. Iraqi security forces ejected 
elements of this militia from a mosque in Karbala that was being used to 
store ammunition. The Iraqi people oppose the actions of this illegal 
militia, and Shi'a religious leaders have called on it to withdraw. 
Recent days have seen demonstrations in which ordinary Iraqis have taken 
to the streets, calling on the militia to withdraw from their cities and 
towns.
    As we attack and defeat the enemies of freedom in Iraq, we will 
continue to work with Iraqi leaders to build a free, democratic, and 
independent government. The United Nations special envoy, Mr. Brahimi, 
is now back in Iraq, consulting with diverse groups of Iraqis. In the 
next few weeks, important decisions will be made on the makeup of an 
interim government. And on June 30th, the flag of a free Iraq will be 
raised, and Iraq's new interim government will assume a sovereign 
authority.
    America will keep its commitment to the independence and national 
dignity of the Iraqi people. Yet the vital mission of our military in 
helping to provide security will continue on July 1st and beyond. Under 
the leadership of Major General David Petraeus, coalition forces are 
training thousands of Iraqis to protect a free Iraq from external 
aggression and internal subversion. Our forces will remain in Iraq to 
assist the Iraqi people until Iraqis can secure their own country.
    Our country has great respect for the Iraqi people, and we are 
determined to expose and punish the abuse of Iraqi detainees. Charges 
have been filed against seven soldiers, and the first trial is set to 
begin next week. My administration and our military are determined that 
such abuses never happen again.
    All Americans know that the actions of a few do not reflect the true 
character of the United States Armed Forces. No military in the history 
of the world has fought so hard and so often for the freedom of others. 
Today, our forces are keeping terrorists across the world on the run. 
They're helping the people of Afghanistan and Iraq build democratic 
societies, making America more secure. By their example, the people of 
those countries and of the countries around the world are coming to know 
that freedom is the answer to hopelessness and terror. Our service men 
and women are defending America with unselfish courage, and their 
achievements have brought pride and credit to this Nation.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:56 a.m. on May 14 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 15. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
May 14 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his 
remarks, the President referred to American hostage Nicholas Berg, who 
was killed in Iraq in early May by senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab 
Al Zarqawi; Muqtada Al Sadr, Iraqi Shiite cleric whose militia engaged 
in an uprising in Iraq that began in early April; and Maj. Gen. David H. 
Petraeus, USA, incoming chief, Office of Security Transition-Iraq. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.