[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 35 (Monday, September 5, 2005)]
[Pages 1310-1311]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Hurricane Katrina and the Iraqi Constitution in Crawford, 
Texas

August 28, 2005

    This morning I spoke with FEMA Under Secretary Mike Brown and 
emergency management teams, not only at the Federal level but at the 
State level about the--Hurricane Katrina. I've also spoken to Governor 
Blanco of Louisiana, Governor Barbour of Mississippi, Governor Bush of 
Florida, and Governor Riley of Alabama. I want to thank all the folks at 
the Federal level and the State level and the local level who have taken 
this storm seriously. I appreciate the efforts of the Governors to 
prepare their citizenry for this upcoming storm.
    Yesterday I signed a disaster declaration for the State of 
Louisiana, and this morning I signed a disaster declaration for the 
State of Mississippi. These declarations will allow Federal agencies to 
coordinate all disaster relief efforts with State and local officials. 
We will do everything in our power to help the people in the communities 
affected by this storm.
    Hurricane Katrina is now designated a category 5 hurricane. We 
cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses to Gulf Coast 
communities. I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety 
of their families first by moving to safe ground. Please listen 
carefully to instructions provided by State and local officials.
    On another matter, today Iraqi political leaders completed the 
process for drafting a permanent constitution. Their example is an 
inspiration to all who share the universal values of freedom, democracy, 
and the rule of law. The negotiators and drafters of this document 
braved the intimidation of terrorists, and they mourn the cowardly 
assassination of friends and colleagues involved in the process of 
drafting the constitution.
    Their efforts follow the bravery of the Iraqis who voted by the 
millions to elect a Transitional Government in January. The example of 
those voters remains a humbling testament to the power of free people to 
shape and define their own destiny. We honor their courage and 
sacrifice, and we are determined to see the Iraqis fully secure their 
democratic gains.
    The Iraqi people have once again demonstrated to the world that they 
are up to the historic challenges before them. The document they have 
produced contains far-reaching protections for fundamental human 
freedoms, including religion, assembly, conscience, and expression. It 
vests sovereignty in the people, to be expressed by secret ballot and 
regular elections. It declares that all Iraqis are equal before the law 
without regard to gender, ethnicity, and religion. This is a document of 
which the Iraqis and the rest of the world can be proud.
    The political process now advances to another important stage for a 
new and free Iraq. In coming months, Iraqis will discuss and debate the 
draft constitution. On October the 15th, they will vote in a national 
referendum to decide whether to ratify the constitution and set the 
foundation for a permanent Iraqi Government. If the referendum succeeds, 
Iraqis will elect a new Government, to serve under the new constitution, 
on December the 15th, and that Government will take office before the 
end of the year.

[[Page 1311]]

    This course is going to be difficult largely because the terrorists 
have chosen to wage war against a future of freedom. They are waging war 
against peace in Iraq. As democracy in Iraq takes root, the enemies of 
freedom, the terrorists, will become more desperate, more despicable, 
and more vicious.
    Just last week, the terrorists called for the death of anyone, 
including women and the elderly, who supports the democratic process in 
Iraq. They have deliberately targeted children receiving candy from 
soldiers. They have targeted election workers registering Iraqis to 
vote. They have targeted hospital workers who are caring for the 
wounded. We can expect such atrocities to increase in the coming months 
because the enemy knows that its greatest defeat lies in the expression 
of free people and freely enacted laws and at the ballot box.
    We will stand with the Iraqi people. It's in our interest to stand 
with the Iraqi people. It's in our interest to lay the foundation of 
peace. We'll help them confront this barbarism, and we will triumph over 
the terrorists' dark ideology of hatred and fear.
    There have been disagreements amongst the Iraqis about this 
particular constitution. Of course there's disagreements. We're watching 
a political process unfold, a process that has encouraged debate and 
compromise, a constitution that was written in a society in which people 
recognize that--that there had to be give-and-take.
    I want our folks to remember, our own Constitution was not 
unanimously received. Some delegates at the Philadelphia Convention in 
1787 refused to sign it, and the draft was vigorously debated in every 
State, and the outcome was not assured until all the votes were counted.
    We recognize that there's a split amongst the Sunnis, for example, 
in Iraq. And I suspect that when you get down to it, you'll find a Shi'a 
who disagrees with the constitution and Shi'as who support the 
constitution and perhaps some Kurds who are concerned about the 
constitution. In other words, we're watching a political process unfold. 
Some Sunnis have expressed reservations about various provisions of the 
constitution, and that's their right as free individuals living in a 
free society. There are strong beliefs among other Sunnis that this 
constitution is good for all Iraqis and that it adequately reflects 
compromises suitable to all groups.
    It's important that all Iraqis now actively engage in the 
constitutional process by debating the merits of this important document 
and making an informed decision on October the 15th.
    On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Iraq 
on completing the next step in their transition from dictatorship to 
democracy. And I want to remind the American people, as a democracy 
unfolds in Iraq, not only will it help make America more secure but it 
will affect the broader Middle East. Democracies don't war with their 
neighbors. Democracies don't become safe haven for terrorists who want 
to destroy innocent life. We have hard work ahead of us, but we're on 
the--we're making good progress toward making sure this world of ours is 
more peaceful for generations to come.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 11:31 a.m. at the Bush Ranch. In his 
remarks, he referred to Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana; 
Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi; Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; and Gov. 
Bob Riley of Alabama.