August 20, 2003
PRES. BUSH CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK
ON U.N. BUILDING IN IRAQ
(Transcript of remarks, August 19)
President Bush condemned the August 19 attack on U.N. headquarters
in Baghdad, calling the attackers "enemies of the civilized
world."
Speaking to reporters at his Texas ranch, Bush said he had spoken
by phone with the U.S. administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer,
and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan about the attack "and
about the vital work in Iraq that continues."
Those who carried out the attack are testing America's will to
combat terrorism, Bush said, "and are finding across the
world that our will cannot be shaken."
Following is a transcript of President Bush's remarks:
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
August 19, 2003
Statement By The President On Bombing In Baghdad, Iraq
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.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs,
U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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