Now read Bush's comments on the democracy that he wanted to establish in Iraq. What were Bush's hopes? Why would his
hopes
not
be achieved easily?
Today we have the greater power to free a nation by breaking a dangerous and aggressive regime.
With new tactics and precision weapons, we can achieve military objectives without directing violence against civilians.
No device of man can remove the tragedy from war, yet it is a great advance when the guilty have far more to fear from war
than the innocent.
In the images of celebrating Iraqis we have also seen the ageless appeal of human freedom. Decades of lies and intimidation
could not make the Iraqi
people love their oppressors or desire their own enslavement.
Men and women in every culture need liberty like they need food and water and air. Everywhere that freedom arrives,
humanity rejoices and everywhere
that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear.
We are helping to rebuild Iraq where the dictator built palaces for himself instead of hospitals and schools.
And we will stand with the new leaders of Iraq as they establish a government of, by and for the Iraqi people.
The transition from dictatorship to democracy will take time, but it is worth every effort. Our coalition will stay until our work
is done and then we will leave and we will leave behind a free
Iraq.