[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 38 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Pages 1248-1249]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks During a Meeting With Members of the Iraq Coalition in New York 
City

September 23, 2008

    President Bush. Mr. President, it is a pleasure to be with you, and 
it's a pleasure to be with nations that have helped your democracy grow. 
A lot of people around the world have made sacrifices along with the 
Iraqi people to enable a country to emerge from the shadows of tyranny, 
become a hopeful example for nations around the world.

[[Page 1249]]

    I applaud your leadership, Mr. President. And I want to thank those 
around the table for showing courage and vision and resolve. Many of the 
troops of the countries represented here have returned home, but they 
have done so on success. And I want to applaud your steadfast leadership 
and thank the people of your respective countries for making the 
sacrifices so that others can live in a free society.
    Mr. President, we've still got work to do, but there is no doubt 
that the situation in Iraq has changed substantially. There's no doubt 
that mothers are able to send their child to school without fear of 
carnage. Oh, there's still killers amongst your--in your midst, but your 
Government has been steadfast in bringing people to justice who are 
trying to undermine your democracy.
    So I look forward to working with you. And I want to thank you for 
being here, and I thank you for honoring those in this room today and 
the peoples of their country.
    Mr. President. Yes, please.
    President Jalal Talabani of Iraq. Mr. President, I am grateful for 
your kind words. And I'm here, on behalf of the Iraqi people, to express 
my deepest appreciation for all countries who participated in the 
breaking Iraq from worst kind of dictatorship.
    Of course, noble and responsible nations must bear their sacrifice 
in order to free the oppressed and bring citizens from the worst kind of 
dictatorship. Nevertheless, on behalf of the people of Iraq, I want to 
express my deepest condolences for your brave soldiers and civilians who 
have lost their lives while standing up for our shared values of freedom 
and democracy.
    Thank you, Mr. President, for your brave leadership and your 
decision to liberate Iraq from worst kind of dictatorship. And thanks 
for all friends and their countries and Governments who participated 
from the beginning to liberate our country and rebuild a new Iraq, a 
democratic, federated, united, independent Iraq, which will help to 
promote democracy in the Middle East and help peace and security in the 
Middle East.
    Thank you again, all of you, and you, Mr. President.
    President Bush. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 7:08 p.m. at the United Nations 
Headquarters. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish 
language transcript of these remarks.