THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

(Crawford, Texas)

For Immediate Release

August 20, 2003

 

   STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON BOMBING IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ

 

   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.