Administration of George W. Bush, 2008 / Dec. 14 1523

down the street and have people not ges- I would rather be with the men and turing with all five fingers. It’s a way for peo- women of the United States military than ple to draw, you know, attention; I don’t with anybody else. know what the guy’s cause is. But one thing So as you can see I decided to fly over, is for certain: He caused you to ask me a and in the spirit of the season we renamed question about it. I didn’t feel the least bit Air Force One to ‘‘Rudolph One.’’ threatened by it. These journalists here were Thanks for coming. I bring greetings from very apologetic; they were—said, ‘‘This a proud and grateful nation; Merry Christmas doesn’t represent the Iraqi people.’’ But to you, happy holidays. Congratulations on that’s what happens in free societies, where your inspiring accomplishments here in Iraq. people try to draw attention to themselves. And above all, thank you very much for vol- And so I guess he was effective, because he unteering to defend our country in a time caused you to say something about it. of danger. Now, in terms of the agreements, this is This is a time of year to give thanks for a major achievement. Is it the end? Abso- our many blessings. And the greatest blessing lutely not. There is more work to be done. we have is freedom and the fact that we’ve And all this basically says is we made good progress, and we’ll continue to work together got a United States military to defend that to achieve peace. That’s what we want: free- freedom. dom and peace. And so, no, I’m honored to So, General, thank you very much for your be back here. It’s my fourth visit to Iraq leadership. I’m proud to be with you again. and—as a sitting President, and I have been I appreciate the leadership of General Austin looking forward to this visit. It’s very kind as well. Ambassador Crocker and Christine of you, Mr. Prime Minister, to have invited are with us today. I had the pleasure of meet- me here. ing Sergeant—Command Sergeant Major Lawrence Wilson, Command Sergeant Major Joe Allen, Major General Hammond—— NOTE: The President spoke at 8:03 p.m. at the Prime Minister’s Palace. In his remarks, he re- Audience members. Hooah! ferred to Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, USA, The President. Put it together for Ham- commanding general, Multi-National Force— mond. [Laughter] Iraq; and President-elect Barack Obama. Prime Audience members. Hooah! Minister Maliki and a reporter spoke in Arabic, The President. Command Sergeant and their remarks were translated by an inter- Major Gioia—— preter. The Office of the Press Secretary also re- leased a Spanish language transcript of these re- Audience members. Hooah! marks. The President. There you go. Major Gen- eral Oates; have you ever heard of—how about, have you ever heard of a guy named Remarks to Military Personnel at Redmore? Camp Victory in Baghdad Audience members. Hooah! December 14, 2008 The President. There you go. Thanks for coming out. I am thrilled to be here with Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! the diplomats and Embassy personnel that U.S.A.! are so critical to our success. The President. There you go. Thank you I want to thank the Iraqi citizens who are for coming out to say hello. General, thank here with us today. I appreciate your cour- you for the introduction; I am honored to age. I know there are members of the coali- be at Camp Victory. tion who are here with us. There have been Audience members. Hooah! a lot of troops from around the world who The President. Laura and I have been have come to help this young democracy sur- having a lot of Christmas parties at the White vive and thrive. And so I want to thank the House, so I thought it would be kind of neat citizens of those country and the troops who to change the scenery. have served here before us.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:41 Dec 23, 2008 Jkt 217250 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P50DET4.019 P50DET4 dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with PRESDOCST 1524 Dec. 14 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2008

This is my fourth trip to Iraq, and you’ve would have meant failure, and failure is never probably heard I’m heading into retire- an option. ment—[laughter]—so it’s going to be my last So instead of pulling troops out, we sent trip as the President. But thanks to you, the more troops in—called the surge. And be- Iraq we stand in tonight is dramatically freer, cause of you and because of your courage, dramatically safer, and dramatically better the surge is one of the greatest successes in than the Iraq we found 8 years ago. the history of the United States military. And as a result of the sacrifices of our Terrorists who once held safe havens troops, America is safer, and America is more across the country are being driven out of secure. their strongholds. The political process that I want to take you back to what life was was once stalled is moving forward. Iraqi citi- like 8 years ago here in Iraq. Iraq had a zens once afraid to leave their homes are record of supporting terror, a record of de- going back to school and shopping in markets veloping and using weapons of mass destruc- and leading a more normal life. And Amer- tion, was routinely firing at American military ican troops are returning home because of personnel, systematically violating United success. Nations resolutions. Life for the Iraqi people The dramatic turnaround you led in Iraq was a nightmare, with Saddam Hussein tor- culminated in two agreements completed last turing and murdering anyone who did not month, which the Prime Minister and I af- support his repressive rule. Iraq was a sworn firmed in a ceremony earlier today. enemy of the United States at the heart of These agreements formalize the ties be- the Middle East; the region was a serious tween our two democracies in areas ranging threat to us. from security and diplomacy to culture and After the attacks of September the 11th, trade. These agreements show the way for- 2001, America concluded we could not tol- ward toward a historic day, when American erate a regime like this in a pivotal region forces withdraw from a democratic and suc- of the world. I gave Saddam Hussein a cessful Iraq, and the war in this land is won. chance to peacefully resolve the question as There’s more hard work to do before we to whether or not he had weapons of mass reach that day. But if there is any—but if destruction. You might remember, I went to there is no doubt—but there is no doubt in the United Nations, where the—that body my mind, there’s just no doubt that we’re said, ‘‘Disarm, disclose, or face serious con- going to reach that day. I am confident be- sequence.’’ It was his choice to make, and cause our cause is just and freedom is uni- he made the wrong choice. And so the versal. I’m confident because the Iraqi peo- United States military, with a vast coalition ple are showing unshakable determination removed this man from power, and the world and courage. is better off for it. And above all, I am confident because I Audience members. Hooah! U.S.A.! know the character and the strength of those U.S.A.! U.S.A.! who wear the uniform of the United States The President. I doubt in his worst night- military. mares, he ever would have dreamt that we’d Over the past 5 years, you have shown the be standing in one of his palaces. world some unmistakable truths. You have Thanks to you, 25 million Iraqis are free. shown that when America is tested, we rise Thanks to you, Iraq is no longer sponsoring to meet the test. You have shown that the terror, it is fighting terror. It’s making Amer- desire for freedom is more powerful than the ican people safer as a result. intimidation of terrorists. You have shown The enemies of freedom in Iraq are deter- that there is no task too difficult for the mined, and this fight has been tough. Two United States military. years ago, the situation had grown dire; the And so I have a message for you and all political process was frozen, and sectarian vi- who serve our country: I want to thank you olence was spiraling out of control. Some of for making the noble choice to serve and to you were here then. Many said the mission protect your fellow Americans. Sometimes it was hopeless; many called for retreat. Retreat can be hard to tell when history is being

VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:41 Dec 23, 2008 Jkt 217250 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P50DET4.019 P50DET4 dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with PRESDOCST Administration of George W. Bush, 2008 / Dec. 15 1525

made, particularly if you’re in the middle of The President. Thanks for coming by to the action. What you’re doing in Iraq is as let me say hello. Thanks for serving the important and courageous and selfless as United States of America. They ask me what what American troops did in places like Nor- I’m going to miss as the President. I’ll tell mandy and Iwo Jima and Korea. Your gen- you what I’m going to miss: being the Com- eration is every bit as great as any that came mander in Chief of such a fabulous group before it. And the work you do every day of folks. May God bless you, and God bless will shape history for generations to come. America. I guess what I’m telling you is, your grand- children some day are going to say, ‘‘Thank NOTE: The President spoke at 10:10 p.m. at Al God you showed up and served.’’ Faw Palace. In his remarks, he referred to Lt. America now has a strong friend and a Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force—Iraq, who intro- partner in the fight against extremism in the duced the President; Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, USA, heart of the Middle East, and that is historic. commander, Multi-National Corps—Iraq; Chris- People across this troubled region of the tine Barnes, wife of U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan world now have an example for a more hope- C. Crocker; Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Wil- ful path, a model of liberty that can prevail son, USA, Multi-National Force—Iraq; Com- over tyranny and terror. Killers who wanted mand Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Allen, USA, Multi-Na- to take the lives of Americans back home tional Corps—Iraq; Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, have been brought to justice before they USA, commander, Multi-National Division— reached our shores. Baghdad and 4th Infantry Division; Command Because of you all who worked to protect Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, USA, Multi-National Divi- sion—Baghdad and 4th Infantry Division; Com- this Nation—and all who work to protect the mand Sgt. Maj. James W. Redmore, USA, Multi- Nation, America has done something many National Division—Center; Maj. Gen. Michael said was impossible: We have gone 7 years Oates, USA, commander, Multi-National Divi- without a terrorist attack. sion—Center; and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki We think of those who have laid down of Iraq. their lives for freedom here in Iraq. Their children are growing up without a mom or a dad. But all the—of our children are grow- Interview With Members of the ing up with something else: the promise of White House Press Pool a safer America and a better world. And that December 14, 2008 is the lasting memorial of all who have sac- rificed here in Iraq. And thanks to you, that Audience Disruption at the Signing memorial will be achieved, and their sacrifice Ceremony With Prime Minister Nuri al- will not be in vain. Maliki of Iraq We think of your comrades who have been Q. Quick ducking there, sir. wounded. And this Nation pledges that we The President. I was worried about you. will give them all the care and all the support I thought you were going to have a heart they need to recover. attack. We think of all your families back home. Q. I thought I was too. [Laughter] I’m with I know many of you have a sweetheart who you on that. misses you, or a daughter who longs for her The President. Okay, my opening state- dad, or a mom who worries about you day ment: I didn’t know what the guy said, but and night. For many of you, it won’t be your I saw his sole. [Laughter] You were more first holiday away, and that certainly doesn’t concerned than I was. I was watching your make it easier. So I’m going to give you an faces. order: When you get out of here, call home Q. I saw something black and round go or e-mail home; you tell your families you by my face. love them; and you tell the Commander in Q. Just to see that—— Chief came by to thank them for their sac- The President. ——his first—other than rifice along with yours. shoes. [Laughter] Audience members. Hooah! Q. ——to duck. [Laughter]

VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:41 Dec 23, 2008 Jkt 217250 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P50DET4.019 P50DET4 dwashington3 on PROD1PC60 with PRESDOCST