    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 3 (Monday, January 23, 2006)]
    [Page 79]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Meeting With Iraqi Citizens

    January 18, 2006

        Listen, thank you all for coming. It's been my honor to visit with
    folks who know firsthand the brutality of Saddam Hussein. These are
    folks who have suffered one way or the other because the tyrant was a
    law unto himself and was willing to deny people basic human rights. The
    stories here are compelling stories. They're stories of sadness and
    stories of bravery.
        In the course of our discussion, we were also able to talk about
    what a contrast it is between a society which was willing to jail
    people, torture people, and beat people and kill people, to a society
    that is beginning to understand the fruits of democracy and freedom.
        Last year was an amazing year in Iraq. Millions of people went to
    the polls to vote, first in January, then to ratify a Constitution, and
    then back to the polls again to elect a Government under the new
    Constitution. It's a testimony to the courage of the Iraqi people.
    Obviously, we still have got work to do and fully intend to do it.
        And one of the interesting moments will come here this year when
    Saddam Hussein's trial is brought forth for the world to see, to see the
    butcherer, the person who brutalized many people or ordered the
    brutality of many people here at this table, get his due justice under
    rule of law.
        And so I want to thank you all for coming. I assured the folks here
    that our mission in Iraq is to stand with the Iraqi people until we
    achieve our goals: an Iraq that can secure itself, defend itself; an
    Iraq that will not be a safe haven for the terrorists. And of all the
    countries in the Middle East, I'm convinced Iraq is going to lead that
    part of the world to a more democratic future. The Iraqi people are
    brave and courageous and smart people.
        And so thank you for being here. Thank you for sharing your stories.
    I appreciate it very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:50 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam
    Hussein of Iraq. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of these remarks.