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more than 100 former regime members. turn to normal in Iraq, and more and more In other operations, our soldiers have also Iraqis will step forward to play a direct seized hundreds of weapons, thousands of role in the rebirth of their country. And rounds of ammunition and explosives, and as the political process moves forward and hundreds of thousands of dollars suspected more and more Iraqis come to feel they of being used to finance terror operations. have a stake in their country’s future, they Second, we are training an ever-increas- will help to secure a better life for them- ing number of Iraqis to defend their nation. selves and their children. Today, more than 90,000 Iraqis are serving The terrorists and the Ba’athists hope to as police officers, border guards, and civil weaken our will. Our will cannot be shaken. defense personnel. These Iraqi forces are We’re being tested, and America and our also supplying troops in the field with bet- allies will not fail. We will honor the sac- ter intelligence, allowing for greater preci- rifice of the fallen by ensuring that the sion in targeting the enemies of freedom. cause for which they fought and died is And we are accelerating our efforts to train completed, and we will make America safer and field a new Iraqi army and more Iraqi by helping to transform Iraq from an ex- civil defense forces. porter of violence and terror into a center Third, we are implementing a specific of progress and peace. plan to transfer sovereignty and authority Thank you for listening. to the Iraqi people. The Governing Coun- cil, made up of Iraqi citizens, has appointed NOTE: The address was recorded at 9:37 a.m. ministers who are responsible for the day- on October 31 at the Bush Ranch in to-day operations of the Iraqi Government. Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on The Council has also selected a committee November 1. The transcript was made avail- that is developing a process through which able by the Office of the Press Secretary on Iraqis will draft a new constitution for their October 31 but was embargoed for release country. When a constitution has been rati- until the broadcast. In his remarks, the Presi- fied by the Iraqi people, Iraq will enjoy dent referred to former President Saddam free and fair elections. Hussein of Iraq. The Office of the Press Sec- All these efforts are closely linked. As retary also released a Spanish language tran- security improves, life will increasingly re- script of this address.

Remarks in Southaven, November 1, 2003

Thank you all. Thanks for coming. I’m of getting up in years and—[laughter]—and honored to be here. I’m honored to be here I come to northern Mississippi, where here with the next Governor of the State thousands of our fellow citizens are here. of Mississippi, . It is great You’ve energized me. I’m thrilled to be to be in northern Mississippi. I’m proud here. Thanks for coming. to be here with a lot of friends. I appreciate you coming. I appreciate You know, I woke up in Crawford this you coming. Haley and I married above morning. I said to First Lady Bush, I said, ourselves. I’m thrilled that the next first ‘‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to lady of Mississippi is with us today, and find the energy to be able to make it that’s Marsha. And Laura sends her love. through a long day.’’ You know, I’m kind

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I’m sorry she’s not with me. She’s been they do what’s in the best interests of the a fabulous First Lady for our country. State of Mississippi and vote for Haley I’ve known Haley for quite a while. He Barbour. used to run in high circles. I guess in this I’m so thankful that we’ve got a great part of the world, you say he used to pick Senator with us today, a man high cotton. [Laughter] But one thing who is a leader on the floor of the United about him, no matter how high the circle States Senate, a strong ally of mine, a great he ran in, he always loved to talk about friend of the people of Mississippi, and Mississippi. He’s proud of this State, and that’s Senator Thad Cochran. As well an- that’s the kind of Governor you need, other fine Representative for the State of somebody who will relate to people from Mississippi in Washington, DC, a man all walks of life. One of the things about who’s done a great job in the United States his campaign that I like a lot is, Haley Congress, friend and ally, and that would is proud to be a Republican, but he also be Congressman Roger Wicker. wants to be the Governor of Democrats I had the honor of welcoming some Mis- and independents. He’s reaching out. He sissippi citizens to Washington a while ago, understands his job is to represent every- and one of the citizens that came was a body when he gets to be the Governor courageous politician, a leader who didn’t in three days. do the politically expedient thing but de- I like the fact that he’s an optimist. He’s cided that she would find a home in a got a positive view for the great State of different political party, somebody who Mississippi. He believes in the great poten- stood by her convictions, somebody who tial of the great State of Mississippi. That’s the kind of Governor you want, somebody said, ‘‘Principle matters a lot to me,’’ and who sees a positive future for every single that’s the next Lieutenant Governor of the citizen. That Governor is Haley Barbour. State of Mississippi, Amy Tuck. I like the fact that Haley Barbour is a I know we’ve got a lot of other statewide man of good values. He honors his family. candidates here. When you get in that He treasures his relationship with the Al- booth for Haley and Amy, make sure you mighty. He believes in hard work. He be- remember , Julio Del Castillo, lieves everybody has worth. It’s these kind Scott Newton, Max Phillips, , of values that are necessary to have in your all fine candidates running for statewide of- statehouse here in Mississippi. I’m proud fice. to stand with this man. Haley Barbour is Not only should people vote for Haley the right man to lead the State of Mis- because he’s so pretty to look at—[laugh- sissippi. ter]—well—[laughter]—he’s got the right And in order to have this good man lead issues. He knows what he’s talking about the State of Mississippi, he needs your when it comes to the issues. He knows help. We’re coming down to voting time when people in Mississippi are looking for here in Mississippi. It’s time to make sure work, you better have a progrowth policy that people get the message that you’ve for the State of Mississippi. got a good man in Haley Barbour. That We share the same philosophy. First of means you need to go out and find your all, we’re concerned about people looking neighbors, Republicans, Democrats, inde- for work, and secondly, we know that in pendents, people who don’t care about po- order to get an economy growing, you’ve litical parties at all, to get to the polls. got to do two things: You must have fiscal Remind them they have a duty as a citizen discipline in the statehouses around the of this free country to vote. And once you country. Haley Barbour knows how to man- get them headed to the polls, make sure age a budget. Haley Barbour will be wise

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with the taxpayers’ money in the State of are problems of the heart, that while Gov- Mississippi. ernment can hand out money, Government I know where Haley stands because cannot put hope in a person’s heart or a when I stood up in front of the Congress sense of purpose—[applause]. No, the great and the country and advocated a progrowth strength of America lies in the hearts and policy for our economy, he was strong by souls of our fellow citizens. And you need my side. I said this, I said, ‘‘If people have a Governor who is willing to rally the ar- more money in their pockets, they’re more mies of compassion. likely to demand a good or a service. And We should never have the state fund the when somebody demands a good or a serv- church, or the church try to be the state. ice in our economy, somebody will produce But what we should have is States and the a good or a service. And when somebody Federal Government willing to empower produces the good or a service, it means those who have heard the universal call to somebody is more likely to find a job.’’ love a neighbor just like we’d like to be The tax cuts we passed came at the right loved ourselves. We need mentors for our time. children. We need people to help the Haley Barbour also understands that in homeless. We need to help the addicted. order for your economy to grow, you better And faith-based programs work. make sure you’ve got a legal system that It’s also been helpful to have a friend is fair, a legal system that isn’t dominated like Haley who supported me and others by the plaintiff’s bar, a legal system that in Washington, DC, to make sure that Mis- doesn’t have so many frivolous lawsuits that sissippi judges get a fair hearing. I’ve it makes it hard for people to find a job. named some good people to serve on the You better have you a Governor who’s will- Federal bench, people who will use the ing to stand up to the trial attorneys and bench to interpret the law and not try to have medical liability reform, so that people write law. I want to thank Senator Cochran can get good health care in the State of and Senator Lott and, of course, Haley for Mississippi. standing strong with a nominee I named I appreciate the fact that Haley Barbour from Mississippi, Charles Pickering. I stand has set as a priority the education of every strong with Judge Pickering, and it’s time child in the State of Mississippi. I used for some Members of the United States to like to say when I was in Texas, edu- Senate to stop playing politics with Amer- cation is to a State what national defense ican justice. is to the Federal Government, the number I look forward to working with Haley one priority. Haley Barbour understands to make sure that the State of Mississippi that every child must be educated in the has got what’s needed to protect the home- State of Mississippi. He stands strong with land. You’ve got valuable ports that need the teachers of Mississippi. He stands on to—we need to work on to make sure that the side of the parents of Mississippi. He nobody comes and harms any of our fellow wants to challenge the soft bigotry of low citizens. I look forward to working with him expectations by raising the bar for every to make sure that the resources we’re single child. spending out of Washington for those on Finally, I appreciate the fact that Haley the frontline of homeland security are well- Barbour not only has supported me on this coordinated and well-spent. I look forward issue I’m about to talk about but is willing to making sure our police forces and fire- to do—have his own version of a faith- fighters and emergency-response teams are based initiative here in the State of Mis- well-coordinated between the Federal Gov- sissippi. And he understands what I know, ernment and the State government and the that some of the problems in our society local governments. Haley would be a good

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leader when it comes to working on home- We’ve overcome a lot of challenges in land security matters. the last 21⁄2 years, and there will be other But I want to remind you that the best challenges. And in my judgment, the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt way for Mississippi to deal with the chal- down the enemy, one by one, and bring lenges you face is to make sure you put them to justice. The terrorists declared war a Governor in place who’s optimistic and on the United States of America, and war hopeful, somebody who can unite this State is what they got. This country will not rest; to get people pulling in the same direction, we will not tire; we will do what it takes somebody who firmly believes in his heart to remove this danger from civilization and of hearts that Mississippi ‘‘can do better.’’ make America secure. And that person and that leader is the next For those of you who have got relatives Governor of the State of Mississippi, Haley in the United States military, I want to Barbour. thank you. And you make sure you send word to them that their Commander in Chief is incredibly proud of the sacrifices NOTE: The President spoke at 10:08 a.m. at they’re making on behalf of our Nation. the DeSoto Civic Center. In his remarks, he And I also want you to know that I un- referred to gubernatorial candidate Haley derstand that the best way to secure Amer- Barbour and his wife, Marsha; Amy Tuck, ica is to advance human liberty. Free na- incumbent candidate for Lieutenant Gov- tions do not attack their neighbors. Free ernor; Phil Bryant, incumbent candidate for nations do not develop weapons of mass State auditor of public accounts; Julio Del terror. The United States of America Castillo, candidate for Mississippi secretary strongly believes that freedom is the right of state; Scott Newton, candidate for State of every single person, that freedom is not attorney general; Max Phillips, candidate for America’s gift to the world, that freedom State commissioner of agriculture and com- is the Almighty’s gift to every person who merce; Tate Reeves, candidate for State lives in this world. With the advance of treasurer; and Charles W. Pickering, Sr., human freedom, the world will be more nominee to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the peaceful, and America will be more secure. Fifth Circuit.

Remarks in Paducah, Kentucky November 1, 2003

The President. Thank you all. The first time here, I was knocking on Audience members. Four more years! doors asking for the vote, for me. [Laugh- Four more years! Four more years! ter] This time I’m back, knocking on doors, The President. Thank you all very much. asking the vote for Ernie Fletcher. It’s actually 3 more days—[laughter]—3 And the reason why, there’s no doubt more days until Ernie Fletcher becomes in my mind he is the best candidate for the Governor of Kentucky. Thanks for com- the job. I like the fact that he was a fighter ing. I appreciate you taking some time out pilot. [Laughter] That says something about of your Saturday afternoon to say hello. him, doesn’t it? I like the fact that he was I’m honored so many people in western a physician. He’s a healer. I like the fact Kentucky came out. It’s good to be back that he’s an engineer. I like the fact that in Paducah. It’s not my first time here.

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