[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 24 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[Page 798]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Bombing of the
Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq

June 13, 2007

    I condemn in the strongest terms today's terrorist attack on the Al-
Askari Mosque in Samarra. This barbarous act was clearly aimed at 
inflaming sectarian tensions among the peoples of Iraq and defeating 
their aspirations for a secure, democratic, and prosperous country. I 
join Iraq's leaders in calling on all Iraqis to refrain from acts of 
vengeance and reject Al Qaida's scheme to sow hatred among the Iraqi 
people and to instead join together in fighting Al Qaida as the true 
enemy of a free and secure Iraq.
    At the Prime Minister's request, the coalition has dispatched a 
rapid reaction force to Samarra to assist Iraqi forces in guarding the 
mosque and restoring calm and security to the area. The United States 
also stands ready to help the Iraqi people rebuild and restore this holy 
shrine. I call upon the international community and Iraq's neighbors to 
do everything in their power to help Iraq's Government and people combat 
the terrorists, especially in stopping the flow of foreign terrorists 
into Iraq. Those responsible for this outrage must be found and brought 
to justice. The United States stands by the Iraqi people in this 
difficult moment and remains fully committed to helping all Iraqis 
realize their dreams of a peaceful future.

Note: In his statement, the President referred to Prime Minister Nuri 
al-Maliki of Iraq.