Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 / Feb. 26 247 Thank you for your interest. May God to our Nation. You do such good work that bless you all, and may God bless America. my administration has borrowed 20 such minds. I want to thank them for their service, NOTE: The President spoke at 10:30 a.m. in Presi- but I also want to remind people that for dential Hall in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Execu- 60 years, AEI scholars have made vital con- tive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to Hans H. Hertell, U.S. Ambassador to the Do- tributions to our country and to our Govern- minican Republic; Jane Delgado, president and ment, and we are grateful for those contribu- chief executive officer, National Alliance for His- tions. panic Health; Gov. Manuel Angel Nunez Soto of We meet here during a crucial period in Hidalgo, Mexico; Alfredo Phillips Olmedo, former the history of our Nation and of the civilized Managing Director, North American Develop- world. Part of that history was written by oth- ment Bank; President Vicente Fox of Mexico; and ers; the rest will be written by us. On a Sep- President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The Office of tember morning, threats that had gathered the Press Secretary also released a Spanish lan- for years, in secret and far away, led to mur- guage transcript of these remarks. der in our country on a massive scale. As a result, we must look at security in a new Remarks to the American Enterprise way, because our country is a battlefield in Institute Annual Dinner the first war of the 21st century. February 26, 2003 We learned a lesson: The dangers of our time must be confronted actively and force- Thank you all very much. Thanks for the fully, before we see them again in our skies warm welcome. I’m proud to be with the and in our cities. And we set a goal: We will scholars and the friends and the supporters not allow the triumph of hatred and violence of the American Enterprise Institute. I want in the affairs of men. to thank you for overlooking my dress code Our coalition of more than 90 countries violation. [Laughter] They were about to stop is pursuing the networks of terror with every me at the door, but Irving Kristol said, ‘‘I tool of law enforcement and with military know this guy. Let him in.’’ [Laughter] power. We have arrested or otherwise dealt Chris, thank you for your very kind intro- with many key commanders of Al Qaida. duction, and thank you for your leadership. Across the world, we are hunting down the I see many distinguished guests here tonight, killers one by one. We are winning. And members of my Cabinet, Members of Con- we’re showing them the definition of Amer- gress, Justice Scalia, Justice Thomas, and so ican justice. And we are opposing the great- many respected writers and policy experts. est danger in the war on terror, outlaw re- I’m always happy to see your senior fellow, gimes arming with weapons of mass destruc- Dr. Lynne Cheney. Lynne is a wise and tion. thoughtful commentator on history and cul- In Iraq, a dictator is building and hiding ture and a dear friend to Laura and me. I’m weapons that could enable him to dominate also familiar with the good work of her hus- the Middle East and intimidate the civilized band. [Laughter] You may remember him, world, and we will not allow it. This same the former director of my vice presidential tyrant has close ties to terrorist organizations search committee. [Laughter] Thank God and could supply them with the terrible Dick Cheney said yes. means to strike this country, and America will Thanks for fitting me into the program to- not permit it. The danger posed by Saddam night. I know I’m not the featured speaker. Hussein and his weapons cannot be ignored I’m just a warmup act for Allan Meltzer. But or wished away. The danger must be con- I want to congratulate Dr. Meltzer for a life- fronted. We hope that the Iraqi regime will time of achievement, and for tonight’s well- meet the demands of the United Nations and deserved honor. Congratulations, Dr. disarm, fully and peacefully. If it does not, Meltzer. we are prepared to disarm Iraq by force. Ei- At the American Enterprise Institute, ther way, this danger will be removed. some of the finest minds in our Nation are The safety of the American people de- at work on some of the greatest challenges pends on ending this direct and growing VerDate Dec 13 2002 08:42 Mar 04, 2003 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P09FET4.028 P09FET4 248 Feb. 26 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2003 threat. Acting against the danger will also Iraqi people. Yet, we will ensure that one contribute greatly to the long-term safety and brutal dictator is not replaced by another. All stability of our world. The current Iraqi re- Iraqis must have a voice in the new Govern- gime has shown the power of tyranny to ment, and all citizens must have their rights spread discord and violence in the Middle protected. East. A liberated Iraq can show the power Rebuilding Iraq will require a sustained of freedom to transform that vital region, by commitment from many nations, including bringing hope and progress into the lives of our own. We will remain in Iraq as long as millions. America’s interests in security and necessary and not a day more. America has America’s belief in liberty both lead in the made and kept this kind of commitment be- same direction, to a free and peaceful Iraq. fore, in the peace that followed a World War. The first to benefit from a free Iraq would After defeating enemies, we did not leave be- be the Iraqi people themselves. Today they hind occupying armies; we left constitutions live in scarcity and fear under a dictator who and parliaments. We established an atmos- has brought them nothing but war and mis- phere of safety, in which responsible, reform- ery and torture. Their lives and their freedom minded local leaders could build lasting insti- matter little to Saddam Hussein, but Iraqi tutions of freedom. In societies that once lives and freedom matter greatly to us. bred fascism and militarism, liberty found a Bringing stability and unity to a free Iraq permanent home. will not be easy. Yet that is no excuse to leave There was a time when many said that the the Iraqi regime’s torture chambers and poi- cultures of Japan and Germany were incapa- son labs in operation. Any future the Iraqi ble of sustaining democratic values. Well, people choose for themselves will be better they were wrong. Some say the same of Iraq than the nightmare world that Saddam Hus- today. They are mistaken. The nation of Iraq, sein has chosen for them. with its proud heritage, abundant resources, If we must use force, the United States and skilled and educated people, is fully ca- and our coalition stand ready to help the citi- pable of moving toward democracy and living zens of a liberated Iraq. We will deliver med- in freedom. icine to the sick, and we are now moving The world has a clear interest in the spread into place nearly 3 million emergency rations of democratic values, because stable and free to feed the hungry. We’ll make sure that nations do not breed the ideologies of mur- Iraq’s 55,000 food distribution sites, oper- der. They encourage the peaceful pursuit of ating under the oil-for-food program, are a better life. And there are hopeful signs of stocked and open as soon as possible. The a desire for freedom in the Middle East. Arab United States and Great Britain are pro- intellectuals have called on Arab govern- viding tens of millions of dollars to the U.N. ments to address the ‘‘freedom gap’’ so their High Commission on Refugees and to such peoples can fully share in the progress of our groups as the World Food Program and times. Leaders in the region speak of a new UNICEF to provide emergency aid to the Arab charter that champions internal reform, Iraqi people. greater political participation, economic We will also lead in carrying out the urgent openness, and free trade. And from Morocco and dangerous work of destroying chemical to Bahrain and beyond, nations are taking and biological weapons. We will provide se- genuine steps toward political reform. A new curity against those who try to spread chaos regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and or settle scores or threaten the territorial in- inspiring example of freedom for other na- tegrity of Iraq. We will seek to protect Iraq’s tions in the region. natural resources from sabotage by a dying It is presumptuous and insulting to suggest regime and ensure those resources are used that a whole region of the world, or the one- for the benefit of the owners, the Iraqi peo- fifth of humanity that is Muslim, is somehow ple. untouched by the most basic aspirations of The United States has no intention of de- life. Human cultures can be vastly different. termining the precise form of Iraq’s new Yet the human heart desires the same good Government. That choice belongs to the things everywhere on Earth. In our desire VerDate Dec 13 2002 08:42 Mar 04, 2003 Jkt 200001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 E:\PRESDOCS\P09FET4.028 P09FET4 Administration of George W.