[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 2 (Monday, January 21, 2008)]
[Pages 66-70]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

January 13, 2008

    Dr. Aida, thank you very much for the kind introduction. Ministers, 
members of the diplomatic corps, and distinguished guests: I am honored 
by the opportunity to stand on Arab soil and speak to the people of this 
nation and this region.
    Throughout the sweep of history, the lands that the Arab people call 
home have played a pivotal role in world affairs. These lands sit at the 
juncture of three great continents, Europe and Asia and Africa. These 
lands have given birth to three of the world's major religions. These 
lands have seen the rise and fall of great civilizations. And in the 
21st century, these lands are once again playing a central role in the 
human story.
    A great new era is unfolding before us. This new era is founded on 
the equality of all people before God. This new era is being built with 
the understanding that power is a trust that must be exercised with the 
consent of the governed and deliver equal justice under the law. And 
this new era offers hope for the millions across the Middle East who 
yearn for a future of peace and progress and opportunity.
    Here in Abu Dhabi, we see clearly the outlines of this future. 
Beginning with the revered father of this country, Sheikh Zayed, you 
have succeeded in building a prosperous society out of the desert. You 
have opened your doors to the world economy. You have encouraged women 
to contribute to the development of your nation, and they have occupied 
some of your highest ministerial posts. You have held historic elections 
for the Federal National Council. You have shown the world a model of a 
Muslim state that is tolerant toward people of other faiths. I'm proud 
to stand in a nation where the people have an opportunity to build a 
better future for themselves and their families. Thank you for your warm 
hospitality.
    In my country, we speak of these developments as the advance of 
freedom. Others may call it the advance of justice. Yet whatever term we 
use, the ideal is the same. In a free and just society, every person is 
treated with dignity. In a free and just society, leaders are 
accountable to those they govern. And in a free and just society, 
individuals can rise as far as their talents and hard work will take 
them.
    For decades, the people of this region saw their desire for liberty 
and justice denied at home and dismissed abroad in the name of 
stability. Today, your aspirations are threatened by violent extremists 
who murder the innocent in pursuit of power. These extremists have 
hijacked the noble religion of Islam and seek to impose their 
totalitarian ideology on millions. They hate freedom and they hate 
democracy because it fosters religious tolerance and allows people to 
chart their own future. They hate your Government because it does not 
share their dark vision. They hate the United States because they know 
we stand with you in opposition to their brutal ambitions. And 
everywhere they go, they use murder and fear to foment instability to 
advance their aims.
    One cause of instability is the extremists supported and embodied by 
the regime that sits in Tehran. Iran is today the world's leading state 
sponsor of terror. It sends hundreds of millions of dollars to 
extremists around the world, while its own people face repression and 
economic hardship at home. It undermines Lebanese hopes for peace by 
arming and aiding the terrorist group Hizballah. It subverts the hopes 
for peace in other parts of the region by funding terrorist groups like 
Hamas and the Palestine Islamic Jihad. It

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sends arms to the Taliban in Afghanistan and Shi'a militants in Iraq. It 
seeks to intimidate its neighbors with ballistic missiles and bellicose 
rhetoric. And finally, it defies the United Nations and destabilizes the 
region by refusing to be open and transparent about its nuclear programs 
and ambitions. Iran's actions threaten the security of nations 
everywhere. So the United States is strengthening our longstanding 
security commitments with our friends in the Gulf and rallying friends 
around the world to confront this danger, before it is too late.
    The other major cause of instability is the extremists embodied by 
Al Qaida and its affiliates. On September 11th, 2001, Al Qaida murdered 
nearly 3,000 people on America's home soil. Some of the victims that day 
were innocent Muslims. And since then, Al Qaida and its allies have 
killed many more Muslims here in the Middle East, including women and 
children. In Afghanistan under the Taliban, on Iraq's Anbar Province, 
they ruled by intimidation and murder. Their goal is to impose that same 
dark rule across the Middle East. So they seek to topple your 
governments, acquire weapons of mass destruction, and drive a wedge 
between the people of the United States and the people of the Middle 
East. And they will fail. The United States joins you in your commitment 
to the freedom and security of this region, and we will not abandon you 
to terrorists or extremists.
    The fight against the forces of extremism is the great ideological 
struggle of our time. And in this fight, our nations have a weapon more 
powerful than bombs or bullets. It is the desire for freedom and justice 
written into our hearts by Almighty God, and no terrorists or tyrant can 
take that away.
    We see this desire in the 12 million Iraqis who dipped their fingers 
in purple ink as they voted in defiance of Al Qaida. We see the desire 
in the Palestinians who elected a President committed to peace and 
reconciliation. We see this desire in the thousands of Lebanese whose 
protests helped rid their country of a foreign occupier. And we see this 
desire in the brave dissidents and journalists who speak out against 
terror and oppression and injustice. We see this desire in the ordinary 
people across the Middle East who are sick of violence, who are sick of 
corruption, sick of empty promises, and who choose a free future 
whenever they are given a chance.
    We also see leaders across this region beginning to respond to the 
desires of their people and take the steps that will help enhance the 
stability and prosperity of their nations. The recent elections to your 
Federal National Council represent the first part of a larger reform 
designed to make your Government more modern and more representative. 
Algeria held its first competitive Presidential elections. Kuwait held 
elections in which women were allowed to vote and hold office for the 
first time. Citizens have voted in municipal elections in Saudi Arabia, 
in competitive parliamentary elections in Jordan and Morocco and 
Bahrain, and in a multiparty Presidential election in Yemen. Across the 
world, the majority of Muslim people live in a free and democratic 
society, and the people of the Middle East must continue to work for the 
day where that is also true of the lands that Islam first called home.
    As freedom and justice advance in this part of the world, elections 
are important, but they're only a start. Free and just societies require 
strong civic institutions, such as houses of worship, universities, 
professional associations, local governments, and community groups. Free 
and just societies require habits of self-government that contribute to 
the rule of law. And free and just societies ultimately depend on the 
emergence of an engaged public whose citizens feel they have a real 
stake in their nation's future. All these developments contribute to the 
bond between government and the governed, between a people and their 
nation.
    Free and just societies also create opportunities for their 
citizens. This opportunity begins with economic growth. In any society, 
the greatest resource is not the oil in the ground or the minerals 
beneath the soil; it is the skills and talents of the people--or as one 
Nobel winning economist calls this, human capital. Across this region, 
you have an abundance of human capital in the men and women who are your 
citizens. By strengthening your education systems and opening your 
economies, you will unlock

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their potential, create vibrant and entrepreneurial societies, and usher 
in a new era where people have confidence that tomorrow will bring more 
opportunities than today.
    In the last few years, the nations of this region have made some 
great progress. The World Bank reports that economic growth is strong, 
and it is rising. Saudi Arabia has joined the World Trade Organization. 
Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, and Morocco have signed free trade agreements 
with the United States. Your nations are attracting more foreign 
investment. Oil accounts for much of the economic growth here, but the 
nations of the Middle East are now investing in their people and 
building infrastructure and opening the door to foreign trade and 
investment.
    America supports you in these efforts. We believe that trade and 
investment is the key to the future of hope and opportunity. We also 
believe that as we demand you open your markets, we should open ours as 
well. We're encouraged by the movement toward economic freedom that 
we're seeing across the Middle East.
    Unfortunately, amid some steps forward in this region, we've also 
seen some setbacks. You cannot build trust when you hold an election 
where opposition candidates find themselves harassed or in prison. You 
cannot expect people to believe in the promise of a better future when 
they are jailed for peacefully petitioning their government. And you 
cannot stand up a modern and confident nation when you do not allow 
people to voice their legitimate criticisms.
    The United States appreciates that democratic progress requires 
tough choices. Our own history teaches us that the road to freedom is 
not always even, and democracy does not come overnight. Yet we also know 
that for all the difficulties, a society based on liberty is worth the 
sacrifice. We know that democracy is the only form of government that 
treats individuals with the dignity and equality that is their right. We 
know from experience that democracy is the only system of government 
that yields lasting peace and stability. In a democracy, leaders depend 
on their people, and most people do not want war and bloodshed and 
violence. Most people want lives of peace and opportunity. So it is the 
declared policy of the United States to support these peoples as they 
claim their freedom, as a matter of natural right and national interest.
    I recognize that some people, including some in my own country, 
believe it is a mistake to support democratic freedom in the Middle 
East. They say that the Arab people are not ready for democracy. Of 
course, that is exactly what people said about the Japanese after World 
War II. Some said that having an emperor was incompatible with 
democracy. Some said that the Japanese religion was incompatible with 
democracy. Some said that advancing freedom in Japan and the Pacific was 
unwise because our interests lay in supporting pro-American leaders no 
matter how they ruled their people.
    Fortunately, America rejected this advice, kept our faith in 
freedom, and stood with the people of Asia. The results are now in. 
Today, the people of Japan have both a working democracy and a 
hereditary emperor. They have preserved their traditional religious 
practices while tolerating the faiths of others. They are surrounded by 
many democracies that reflect the full diversity of the region. Some of 
these democracies have constitutional monarchies; some have parliaments; 
and some have presidents. Some of these democracies have Christian 
majorities; some have Muslim majorities; some have Hindu or Buddhist 
majorities. Yet for all the differences, the free nations of Asia all 
derive their authority from the consent of the governed, and all know 
the lasting stability that only freedom can bring.
    This transformation would not have been possible without America's 
presence and perseverance over many decades. And just as our commitment 
to Asia helped people there secure their freedom and prosperity, our 
commitment to the Middle East will help you achieve yours. And you can 
know from our record in Asia that our commitment is real, it is strong, 
and it is lasting.
    Today, America is using its influence to foster peace and 
reconciliation in the Holy Land. The Israelis have raised a thriving 
modern society out of rocky soil and want to live their lives in freedom 
and security at home and at peace with their neighbors. The Palestinian 
people aspire to build a nation

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of their own, where they can live in dignity and realize their dreams.
    Today, Israelis and Palestinians each understand that the only way 
to realize their own goals is by helping one another. In other words, an 
independent, viable, democratic, and peaceful Palestinian state is more 
than the dream of the Palestinians; it's also the best guarantee for 
peace for all its neighbors. And the Israelis understand this. Leaders 
on both sides still have many tough decisions ahead, and they will need 
to back these decisions with real commitments. But the time has come for 
a Holy Land where Palestinian and Israeli live together in peace.
    America will do our part. In Annapolis in November, the United 
States invited the Israelis and the Palestinians and other members of 
the international community to come to a conference. And I appreciate 
the fact that your country sent a delegate. It was a remarkable thing, 
to see a Palestinian President and an Israeli Prime Minister address a 
roomful of Arab leaders together. And the result was that the 
Palestinians and Israelis launched negotiations for the establishment of 
a Palestinian state and a broader peace.
    The talks are just beginning, and our hopes are high. At the 
beginning of my trip, I met with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders. I 
was impressed by their commitment to move forward. And by supporting the 
legitimate aspirations of both sides, we will encourage reconciliation 
between the Israeli and Palestinian people, foster reconciliation 
between Israelis and Arabs, and build a foundation for lasting peace 
that will contribute to the security of every state in the Gulf.
    And as you build a Middle East growing in peace and prosperity, the 
United States will be your partner. As we have done in places from Asia 
to Europe, we have forged new relationships with friends and allies, 
designed to help you protect your people and your borders. As we have 
done in places from Asia to Europe, we're helping you bring your 
economies into the global market. And as we have done in places from 
Asia to Europe, we have launched programs designed to help you promote 
economic reform and educational opportunity and political participation.
    The United States has no desire for territory. We seek our shared 
security in your liberty. We believe that stability can only come 
through a free and just Middle East, where the extremists are 
marginalized by millions of moms and dads who want the same 
opportunities for their children that we have for ours. So today I would 
like to speak directly to the people of the Middle East.
    To the Palestinian people: The dignity and sovereignty that is your 
right is within your reach. In President Abbas, you have a leader who 
understands that the path forward is through peaceful negotiations. Help 
him as he makes the tough decisions for peace. Oppose the extremists and 
terrorists who represent the greatest threat to a Palestinian state. The 
United States will help you build the institutions of democracy and 
prosperity and make your dreams of a state come true.
    To the people of Israel: You know that peace and reconciliation with 
your neighbors is the best path to long-term security. We believe that 
peace is possible, though it requires tough decisions. The United States 
will always stand with Israel in the face of terrorism. And we will 
support you as you work to ensure the security of your people and bring 
peace and reconciliation to the Holy Land.
    To the people of Iraq: You have made your choice for democracy, and 
you have stood firm in the face of terrible acts of murder. The 
terrorists and extremists cannot prevail. They are tormented by the 
sight of an old man voting or a young girl going to school because they 
know a successful democracy is a mortal threat to their ambitions. The 
United States is fighting side by side with Sunni and Shi'a and Kurd to 
root out the terrorists and extremists. We have dealt them serious 
blows. The United States will continue to support you as you build the 
institutions of a free society. And together we'll defeat our common 
enemies.
    To the people of Iran: You are rich in culture and talent. You have 
a right to live under a government that listens to your wishes, respects 
your talents, and allows you to build better lives for your families. 
Unfortunately, your Government denies you these opportunities and 
threatens the peace and stability of your neighbors. So we call on the 
regime

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in Tehran to heed your will and to make itself accountable to you. The 
day will come when the people of Iran have a Government that embraces 
liberty and justice and Iran joins the community of free nations. And 
when that good day comes, you will have no better friend than the United 
States of America.
    To the leaders across the Middle East who are fighting the 
extremists: The United States will stand with you as you confront the 
terrorists and radicals. We urge you to join us in committing the 
resources to help the Palestinians build the institutions of a free 
society. Help the citizens of Lebanon preserve their Government and 
their sovereignty in the face of outside pressure from their neighbors. 
Show the Iraqis that you support them in their effort to build a more 
hopeful nation. And as you do these things, the best way to defeat the 
extremists in your midst is by opening your societies and trusting in 
your people and giving them a voice in their nation.
    And finally, to the people of the Middle East: We hear your cries 
for justice. We share your desire for a free and prosperous future. And 
as you struggle to find your voice and make your way in this world, the 
United States will stand with you.
    For most of the world, there's no greater symbol of America than the 
Statue of Liberty. It was designed by a man who traveled widely in this 
part of the world and who had originally envisioned his woman bearing a 
torch as standing over the Suez Canal. Ultimately, of course, it was 
erected in New York Harbor, where it has been an inspiration to 
generations of immigrants. One of these immigrants was a poet/writer 
named Ameen Rihani. Gazing at her lamp held high, he wondered whether 
her sister might be erected in the lands of his Arab forefathers. Here 
is how he put it: ``When will you turn your face toward the East, oh 
Liberty?''
    My friends, a future of liberty stands before you. It is your right. 
It is your dream. And it is your destiny.
    God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 3:50 p.m. at the Emirates Palace Hotel. In 
his remarks, he referred to Aida Abdullah Al-Azdi, executive director, 
Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research; President Mahmoud 
Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority; Nobel Prize winner and 
economist Gary S. Becker; and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel.