President Condemns Bombing in Baghdad, Iraq
Remarks by the President on Bombing in Baghdad
Bush Ranch
Crawford, TX
11:05 A.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Today in Baghdad terrorists turned their violence
against the United Nations. The U.N. personnel and Iraqi citizens
killed in the bombing were in that country on a purely humanitarian
mission. Men and women in the targeted building were working on
reconstruction, medical care for Iraqis. They were there to help with
the distribution of food. A number have been killed or injured. And
to those who suffer, I extend the sympathy of the American people.
A short time ago I spoke with Ambassador Bremer and directed him to
provide all possible assistance to the rescue and recovery effort at
the United Nations headquarters. I also spoke to Secretary General
Kofi Annan about the personal loss the U.N. has suffered, about the
assistance my country has offered and about the vital work in Iraq that
continues.
The terrorists who struck today have again shown their contempt for
the innocent. They showed their fear of progress and their hatred of
peace. They are the enemies of the Iraqi people. They are the enemies
of every nation that seeks to help the Iraqi people. By their tactics
and their targets, these murderers reveal themselves once more as
enemies of the civilized world.
Every sign of progress in Iraq adds to the desperation of the
terrorists and the remnants of Saddam's brutal regime. The civilized
world will not be intimidated, and these killers will not determine the
future of Iraq. The Iraqi people have been liberated from a dictator.
Iraq is on a irreversible course toward self-government and peace. And
America and our friends and the United Nations will stand with the
Iraqi people as they reclaim their nation and their future.
Iraqi people face a challenge, and they face a choice. The
terrorists want to return to the days of torture chambers and mass
graves. The Iraqis who want peace and freedom must reject them and
fight terror. And the United States and many in the world will be
there to help them.
All nations of the world face a challenge and a choice. By
attempting to spread chaos and fear, terrorists are testing our will.
Across the world, they are finding that our will cannot be shaken. We
will persevere through every hardship. We will continue this war on
terror until the killers are brought to justice. And we will prevail.
May God bless the souls who have been harmed in Iraq. Thank you
very much.