[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 2 (Monday, January 21, 2008)]
[Pages 63-64]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Discussion on Democracy and Development With Kuwaiti 
Women in Kuwait City, Kuwait

January 12, 2008

    The President. I want to thank these ladies from Kuwait for joining 
me and the Charge. I'm really looking forward to the conversation. Laura 
had met with some before and came back very impressed by the spirit and 
desire of Kuwaiti women to be full participants in Kuwaiti society.
    First, I'd like to thank His Highness for his hospitality. Secondly, 
last night in a conversation with His Highness, I said, ``Any regrets 
about having women vote in elections and run for elections?'' He said, 
``Absolutely not.'' He said, ``Our society is enriched by the 
participation of our women.'' And he's right. All societies are enriched 
by the participation of women. I happen to believe very strongly in the 
freedom agenda, and I think an integral part of that agenda is making 
sure that all participants in society have got an equal voice.
    And one of the interesting--I think when people look back at the 
history of the Middle East and history of the world, it's going to be 
women who helped lead the freedom agenda. And it's happening right here 
in Kuwait. We've had people here at the table who

[[Page 64]]

ran for Kuwaiti parliament. And Jenan ran; she said--I told her the 
first race I ever ran, I lost. [Laughter]. And she said, ``Well, the 
first race I ever ran, I lost too.'' But she intends to win next time 
around.
    And so I appreciate you all coming. I'm honored to be with you. We 
want to help. Part of our democracy agenda, of course, is the 
empowerment of women.
    And so thank you for taking time. Doctor, would you like to have a 
few comments?
    Former Health Minister Maasouma Al-Mubarak of Kuwait. Of course. 
First of all, we'd like to welcome you, Mr. President. As you probably 
watched our media this morning, the media said that we are saying it 
from the deep of our hearts: Welcome, Mr. President.
    The President. Thank you.
    Ms. Al-Mubarak. Definitely, we Kuwaitis look with great appreciation 
to the role that the American people played in the liberation of Kuwait, 
and we remember with great appreciation your father role, Mr. Bush. And 
we call him here in Kuwait, Bu Abdullah. That means he's so close to us, 
and the role that he played, really still and forever, we remember it as 
Kuwaitis.
    And looking to the domestic issues in Kuwait, and especially the 
freedom that we are enjoying, looking to this group of ladies that are 
gathered totally by the Embassy, this is something that you don't have 
it much in lots of the countries and rarely in the Middle Eastern 
countries. Our Government has nothing to do with the gathering and 
nothing to do with this election of the people. And that gives a great 
idea that we speak our minds; we speak our hearts. And we are so glad to 
be with you, Mr. President.
    And regarding the issues, really we have in mind, Mr. President, as 
women and as mothers, we're really asking you, as a person and as the 
leader of the great United States, for--to put an end for the agony of 
mothers in Kuwait, for the people, and for our fellow citizens in 
Guantanamo. And we are sure that your human feelings so much with us in 
that, and we need really your role and your assistance in that regard.
    And also, as citizens and people from this region, we deserve to 
live in peace. We are looking forward to live in peace. We are really--
not only in Kuwait but in the whole region, this region, the Gulf 
region, suffered for years and years from--suffering from the wars and 
the impact of the wars. And we need your assistance, your help, your 
good will to have peace in this part of the world. And as you've played 
lots of roles in having peace and security in lot of part of the world--
you, your father, and the other President.
    Again, welcome, Mr. President.
    The President. Thank you. Thanks.

Note: The President spoke at 12:03 p.m. at the U.S. Embassy. In his 
remarks, he referred to Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d'Affaires 
Alan Misenheimer of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait; Amir Sabah al-Ahmad al-
Jabir al-Sabah of Kuwait; and Jenan Boushehri, former candidate for the 
Kuwait Municipal Council.