> > Remarks by President George Bush > > March 19, 2003 > > THE PRESIDENT: My fellow citizens, at this hour, American > and coalition forces are in the early stages of military > operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend > the world from grave danger. > > On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected > targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's > ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will > be a broad and concerted campaign. More than 35 countries > are giving crucial support -- from the use of naval and air > bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the > deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition > has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving > in our common defense. > > To all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces > now in the Middle East, the peace of a troubled world and > the hopes of an oppressed people now depend on you. That > trust is well placed. > > The enemies you confront will come to know your skill and > bravery. The people you liberate will witness the honorable > and decent spirit of the American military. In this > conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for > conventions of war or rules of morality. Saddam Hussein has > placed Iraqi troops and equipment in civilian areas, > attempting to use innocent men, women and children as > shields for his own military -- a final atrocity against his > people. > > I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition > forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians > from harm. A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as > large as California could be longer and more difficult than > some predict. And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable > and free country will require our sustained commitment. > > We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their > great civilization and for the religious faiths they > practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a > threat and restore control of that country to its own > people. > > I know that the families of our military are praying that > all those who serve will return safely and soon. Millions of > Americans are praying with you for the safety of your loved > ones and for the protection of the innocent. For your > sacrifice, you have the gratitude and respect of the > American people. And you can know that our forces will be > coming home as soon as their work is done. > > Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly -- yet, our > purpose is sure. The people of the United States and our > friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw > regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder. > We will meet that threat now, with our Army, Air Force, > Navy, Coast Guard and Marines, so that we do not have to > meet it later with armies of fire fighters and police and > doctors on the streets of our cities. > > Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its > duration is to apply decisive force. And I assure you, this > will not be a campaign of half measures, and we will accept > no outcome but victory. > > My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and the world > will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril > and carry on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom. > We will bring freedom to others and we will prevail. > > May God bless our country and all who defend her. > > ****************************************************** > ****************************************************** > > Important Links to Remember: > > Republican National Committee: > http://www.rnc.org/ > > GOP Team Leader: > http://www.gopteamleader.com/users/joinnow.asp?sourcefrom=SPChamp-signupFirst
> > RNC NewsRoom: > http://www.rnc.org/newsroom/ > > GOP-TV: > http://www.rnc.org/NewsService > _______________________________________________ General mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.linux-sxs.org/mailman/listinfo/general
