The anti-Bush crowd hates him because he has brought freedom and
democracy to the people in Iraq. The talk about the bombings and all
that is just media hype by the liberal media to discredit this great
man and the troops. The idea things are going bad in Iraq is just a
conspiracy theory with no merit. Bush is, without question, the best
American president this nation has had since Harry Truman, who also had
the balls to start a real war.

If the left wasn't in the way, American
troops would have already left Iraq and gone after Iran and Syria, the
terrorist hideouts who obviously allowed Saddam's weapons of mass
destruction to enter their country before the invasion. The Iraqi
insurgents are nothing more than target practice for the US military,
who is smoking the terrorists out every day.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050329.html

President Discusses Freedom and Democracy
The Rose Garden

11:25 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thank you. Good morning. Welcome to the
White House. Please be seated. Senator Warner, it's good to see you,
sir. Thank you for coming. I appreciate citizens from Iraq who have
joined us. I appreciate my fellow citizens who have joined us. Thanks
for coming.

Before I talk about Iraq, I do want to say that on behalf of the
American people, Laura and I offer our condolences to the victims of
yesterday's earthquake in Indonesia. This earthquake has claimed lives
and destroyed buildings in a part of Indonesia that is only now
beginning to recover from the destruction caused by the tsunami three
months ago. Our officials have offered initial assistance and are
moving quickly to gather information to determine what additional
relief is needed.

I appreciate Andrew Natsios of USAID being with us today, and I know he
and his team are ready to respond, to help. People of Indonesia can
know, as well, that they have our prayers and that our government is
ready to assist.

Just a few minutes ago I met with a group of people dedicated to
building a new Iraq. Most of them were born in Iraq. They come from
different backgrounds; they practice different religions; they have one
thing in common -- they all voted in the January elections. (Applause.)


We're also joined today by Iraqi law students visiting the United
States for an international competition, by members of Iraq's religious
communities in town to learn about democracy, and by others who helped
organize the -- Iraq's elections held in the United States. I want to
welcome you all. I want to thank you for your strong belief in
democracy and freedom. It's a belief that, with their vote, the Iraqi
people signal to the world that they intend to claim their liberty and
build a future of freedom for their country. And it was a powerful
signal.

I commend the more than 8 million Iraqis who defied the car bombers and
assassins to vote that day. (Applause.) I appreciate the determination
of the Iraqi electoral workers who withstood threats and intimidation
to make a transparent election possible. I salute the courageous Iraqi
security forces who risked their lives to protect voters.

By electing 275 men and women to the transitional national assembly,
the Iraqi people took another bold step toward self-government. Today,
Iraqis took another step on the road to a free society when the
assembly held its second meeting. We expect a new government will be
chosen soon and that the assembly will vote to confirm it. We look
forward to working with the government that emerges from this process.
We're confident that this new government will be inclusive, will
respect human rights, and will uphold fundamental freedoms for all
Iraqis.

We have seen many encouraging signs in Iraq. The world has watched
Iraqi women vote in enormous numbers. (Applause.) The world has seen
more than 80 women take their seats as elected representatives in the
new assembly. (Applause.) We've also seen the beginnings of a new
national dialogue, as leaders who did well in the last election have
reached out to Sunnis who did not participate.

In a democracy, the government must uphold the will of the majority
while respecting the rights of minorities. (Applause.) And Iraq's new
leaders are determined that the government of a free Iraq will be
representative of their country's diverse population. The new
transitional national assembly includes people and parties with
differing visions for the future of their country. In a democratic
Iraq, these differences will be resolved through debate and persuasion,
instead of force and intimidation.

In forming their new government, the Iraqis have shown that the spirit
of compromise has survived more than three decades of dictatorship.
They will need that spirit in the weeks and months ahead, as they
continue the hard work of building their democracy. After choosing the
leaders of their new government, the next step will be the drafting of
a new constitution for a free and democratic Iraq. In October, that
document is scheduled to be put before the Iraqi people in a national
referendum. Once the new constitution is approved, Iraqis will return
to the polls to elect a permanent, constitutional government.

This democracy will need defending. And Iraqi security forces are
taking on greater responsibility in the fight against the insurgents
and terrorists. Today, more than 145,000 Iraqis have been trained and
are serving courageously across Iraq. In recent weeks, they've taken
the lead in offensive operations in places like Baghdad and Samara and
Mosul. We will continue to train Iraqis so they can take responsibility
for the security of their country, and then our forces will come home
with the honor they've earned. (Applause.)

Iraqis are taking big steps on a long journey of freedom. A free
society requires more than free elections; it also requires free
institutions, a vibrant civil society, rule of law, anti-corruption,
and the habits of liberty built over generations. By claiming their own
freedom, the Iraqis are transforming the region, and they're doing it
by example and inspiration, rather than by conquest and domination.
(Applause.) The free people of Iraq are now doing what Saddam Hussein
never could -- making Iraq a positive example for the entire Middle
East. (Applause.)

Today, people in a long-troubled part of the world are standing up for
their freedom. In the last few months, we've witnessed successful
elections in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Palestinian Territories;
peaceful demonstrations on the streets of Beirut, and steps toward
democratic reform in places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The trend is
clear: Freedom is on the march. Freedom is the birthright and deep
desire of every human soul, and spreading freedom's blessings is the
calling of our time. And when freedom and democracy take root in the
Middle East, America and the world will be safer and more peaceful.
(Applause.)

I want to thank you all for coming. We ask for God's blessings on the
brave souls of Iraq, and God continue to bless the American people.
Thank you. (Applause.)

END 11:35 A.M. EST

Subject: Talk of Iraq Violence Just Media Hype

The anti-Bush crowd hates him because he has brought freedom and
democracy to the people in Iraq. The talk about the bombings and all
that is just media hype by the liberal media to discredit this great
man and the troops. The idea things are going bad in Iraq is just a
conspiracy theory with no merit. Bush is, without question, the best
American president this nation has had since Harry Truman, who also had
the balls to start a real war. If the left wasn't in the way, American
troops would have already left Iraq and gone after Iran and Syria, the
terrorist hideouts who obviously allowed Saddam's weapons of mass
destruction to enter their country before the invasion. The Iraqi
insurgents are nothing more than target practice for the US military,
who is smoking the terrorists out every day.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050329.html

President Discusses Freedom and Democracy
The Rose Garden

11:25 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thank you. Good morning. Welcome to the
White House. Please be seated. Senator Warner, it's good to see you,
sir. Thank you for coming. I appreciate citizens from Iraq who have
joined us. I appreciate my fellow citizens who have joined us. Thanks
for coming.

Before I talk about Iraq, I do want to say that on behalf of the
American people, Laura and I offer our condolences to the victims of
yesterday's earthquake in Indonesia. This earthquake has claimed lives
and destroyed buildings in a part of Indonesia that is only now
beginning to recover from the destruction caused by the tsunami three
months ago. Our officials have offered initial assistance and are
moving quickly to gather information to determine what additional
relief is needed.

I appreciate Andrew Natsios of USAID being with us today, and I know he
and his team are ready to respond, to help. People of Indonesia can
know, as well, that they have our prayers and that our government is
ready to assist.

Just a few minutes ago I met with a group of people dedicated to
building a new Iraq. Most of them were born in Iraq. They come from
different backgrounds; they practice different religions; they have one
thing in common -- they all voted in the January elections. (Applause.)


We're also joined today by Iraqi law students visiting the United
States for an international competition, by members of Iraq's religious
communities in town to learn about democracy, and by others who helped
organize the -- Iraq's elections held in the United States. I want to
welcome you all. I want to thank you for your strong belief in
democracy and freedom. It's a belief that, with their vote, the Iraqi
people signal to the world that they intend to claim their liberty and
build a future of freedom for their country. And it was a powerful
signal.

I commend the more than 8 million Iraqis who defied the car bombers and
assassins to vote that day. (Applause.) I appreciate the determination
of the Iraqi electoral workers who withstood threats and intimidation
to make a transparent election possible. I salute the courageous Iraqi
security forces who risked their lives to protect voters.

By electing 275 men and women to the transitional national assembly,
the Iraqi people took another bold step toward self-government. Today,
Iraqis took another step on the road to a free society when the
assembly held its second meeting. We expect a new government will be
chosen soon and that the assembly will vote to confirm it. We look
forward to working with the government that emerges from this process.
We're confident that this new government will be inclusive, will
respect human rights, and will uphold fundamental freedoms for all
Iraqis.

We have seen many encouraging signs in Iraq. The world has watched
Iraqi women vote in enormous numbers. (Applause.) The world has seen
more than 80 women take their seats as elected representatives in the
new assembly. (Applause.) We've also seen the beginnings of a new
national dialogue, as leaders who did well in the last election have
reached out to Sunnis who did not participate.

In a democracy, the government must uphold the will of the majority
while respecting the rights of minorities. (Applause.) And Iraq's new
leaders are determined that the government of a free Iraq will be
representative of their country's diverse population. The new
transitional national assembly includes people and parties with
differing visions for the future of their country. In a democratic
Iraq, these differences will be resolved through debate and persuasion,
instead of force and intimidation.

In forming their new government, the Iraqis have shown that the spirit
of compromise has survived more than three decades of dictatorship.
They will need that spirit in the weeks and months ahead, as they
continue the hard work of building their democracy. After choosing the
leaders of their new government, the next step will be the drafting of
a new constitution for a free and democratic Iraq. In October, that
document is scheduled to be put before the Iraqi people in a national
referendum. Once the new constitution is approved, Iraqis will return
to the polls to elect a permanent, constitutional government.

This democracy will need defending. And Iraqi security forces are
taking on greater responsibility in the fight against the insurgents
and terrorists. Today, more than 145,000 Iraqis have been trained and
are serving courageously across Iraq. In recent weeks, they've taken
the lead in offensive operations in places like Baghdad and Samara and
Mosul. We will continue to train Iraqis so they can take responsibility
for the security of their country, and then our forces will come home
with the honor they've earned. (Applause.)

Iraqis are taking big steps on a long journey of freedom. A free
society requires more than free elections; it also requires free
institutions, a vibrant civil society, rule of law, anti-corruption,
and the habits of liberty built over generations. By claiming their own
freedom, the Iraqis are transforming the region, and they're doing it
by example and inspiration, rather than by conquest and domination.
(Applause.) The free people of Iraq are now doing what Saddam Hussein
never could -- making Iraq a positive example for the entire Middle
East. (Applause.)

Today, people in a long-troubled part of the world are standing up for
their freedom. In the last few months, we've witnessed successful
elections in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Palestinian Territories;
peaceful demonstrations on the streets of Beirut, and steps toward
democratic reform in places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The trend is
clear: Freedom is on the march. Freedom is the birthright and deep
desire of every human soul, and spreading freedom's blessings is the
calling of our time. And when freedom and democracy take root in the
Middle East, America and the world will be safer and more peaceful.
(Applause.)

I want to thank you all for coming. We ask for God's blessings on the
brave souls of Iraq, and God continue to bless the American people.
Thank you. (Applause.)

END 11:35 A.M. EST

The anti-Bush crowd hates him because he has brought freedom and
democracy to the people in Iraq. The talk about the bombings and all
that is just media hype by the liberal media to discredit this great
man and the troops. The idea things are going bad in Iraq is just a
conspiracy theory with no merit. Bush is, without question, the best
American president this nation has had since Harry Truman, who also
had the balls to start a real war.

The anti-Bush crowd hates him because he has brought freedom and
democracy to the people in Iraq.

The talk about the bombings and all
that is just media hype by the liberal media to discredit this great
man and the troops.

The idea things are going bad in Iraq is just a
conspiracy theory with no merit.

American president this nation has had since Harry Truman, who also had
the balls to start a real war.

troops would have already left Iraq and gone after Iran and Syria, the
terrorist hideouts who obviously allowed Saddam's weapons of mass
destruction to enter their country before the invasion. The Iraqi
insurgents are nothing more than target practice for the US military,
who is smoking the terrorists out every day.

The anti-Bush crowd hates him because he has brought freedom and
democracy to the people in Iraq.

The talk about the bombings and all
that is just media hype by the liberal media to discredit this great
man

and the troops.

The idea things are going bad in Iraq is just a
conspiracy theory with no merit.