We kept promise to free you, say Blair and Bush

They told a joint press conference at the Nato summit in Turkey that the transfer of sovereignty was a “moral” achievement that transcended American and British values, representing a triumph for humanity.

Last night Washington released private written exchanges between President Bush and Condoleezza Rice, the National Security Adviser, saying the handover had been successfully completed.

Passed to Mr Bush by Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, the President wrote on the note: “Let freedom reign!” Standing next to Mr Blair yesterday, 15 months after the invasion of Iraq, Mr Bush said: “After decades of rule by a brutal regime, the Iraqi people have their country back. Terrorists are doing all they can to stop the rise of a free Iraq but their bombs and attacks have not prevented Iraqi sovereignty and they will not prevent Iraqi democracy.”

He added: “This day also marks a proud moral achievement for members of our coalition. We pledged to end a dangerous regime, to free the oppressed and to restore sovereignty. We have kept our word.”

Mr Bush said that elections in Iraq and Afghanistan would “serve as an agent of change in this part of the world” and that the “vibrant” people of Iran would be watching with interest.

The President said that the early handover was a sign of confidence, praising Ayad Allawi, the Iraqi Prime Minister, and fellow Iraqi leaders as “gutsy and courageous”. They had “staying power”, he said.

In a marked departure from earlier claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, the President referred to Iraq’s “history of using WMD”.

Asked whether Dr Allawi would be justified in imposing martial law or hunting down insurgents, Mr Bush said: “He may take tough security measures to deal with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (the Jordanian-born terrorist leader in Iraq). He may have to — (al-Zarqawi) beheads people on TV and sends suiciders to kill women and children.”

Mr Blair added: “Their purpose in taking tough security measures is to guarantee freedom for people, not to take it away.”

Mr Bush said that “the civilised world would not be frightened or intimidated” by insurgents and terrorists trying to destabilise Iraq and pledged: “Iraq and its people will not stand alone.”

But American forces would stay in Iraq “only as long as their presence is required”.

Mr Blair described the handover as an important staging post on the journey to a new future for Iraq. “We can look forward to the possibility and hope of an Iraq that genuinely guarantees a future for people from whatever part of Iraq they come from,” he said.

He added: “Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups are there in Iraq now. The battle for Iraq and its future is in a genuine sense the frontline of the battle against terrorism . . . a new form of extremism linked to a perversion of the true faith of Islam.”

Mr Blair issued a strong denial that the Iraq war had encouraged terrorism, saying: “The terrorist threat had been building up for a long time.”

He also dismissed a suggestion that the early, low-key handover showed the US-led coalition was desperate to get Iraq off its hands. “We will stay as long as it takes.”

Mr Blair rounded on those who have criticised the export of “Western values” to Iraq, saying: “The best guarantee of security lies in the values that are not British or American values but the values of humanity.”

While Mr Bush and Mr Blair glowed with relief, President Chirac of France found it difficult to share their euphoria.

After Nato’s decision to help to train Iraqi security forces, Mr Chirac said that French troops would never enter Iraq. He said France, Germany and possibly Spain would train Iraqi troops outside Iraq. When asked whether Mr Bush was right to say the differences within Nato over Iraq were over, Mr Chirac said: “Well, if Mr Bush says that, I can only say I agree.”

IS this what you are referring to?

THAT WHICH HAS BENEFIT FOR PEOPLE

The MESOPOTAMIAN

Monday, June 28, 2004

ÝÇãÇ ÇáÒÈÏ ÝíÐåÈ ÌÝÇÁ æÇãÇ ãÇíäÝÚ ÇáäÇÓ ÝíãßË Ýí ÇáÇÑÖ

This is a famous Arabic verse of divine Wisdom; the eloquence and resonance of the sentence cannot be translated but the meaning is as follows:

“As for the scum, it will go (disappear) in vain (uselessly); and as for that which has benefit for people, it will stay in the earth.”

One man of the people is asked by an MBC (An Arab network) reporter what he thinks about the new government. He answers very simply in that spontaneous genuine manner of simple folk: “aren’t these men better than the riffraff who used to govern us?” Truer words have never been said.

This day, this modest ceremony, no elaborate celebrations, no fanfare; yet surely this is a “Mother of Days” for Iraq, and history will remember this day.

Likewise, I am not going to say anything grandiose today, rather in the same style of today’s ceremonies. All I can say is that almost everybody here has hope, great hope. Personally I am confident of the future because “That which has benefit for people will stay in the earth”.

Hail our true friends, the Great People of the United States of America; The Freedom giving Republic, the nation of Liberators. Never has the world known such a nation, willing to spill the blood of her children and spend the treasure of her land even for the sake of the freedom and well being of erstwhile enemies. The tree of friendship is going to grow and grow and bear fruit as sure as day follows night. And the people deep down at the bottom of their hearts, they appreciate. Make no mistake about that. The people have voted today, the pulse of the street is clear, without any hesitation I would give 90% of all Iraqis are hopeful and supportive of the new government, and this is a tacit indirect yes to the U.S. which has been the prime mover of all these events. This is what the foolish fail to understand. Why is this a different situation from that for example of a Vietnam? The answer is very simple: Because, the U.S. has achieved something very popular around here; which is the removal of the Saddam regime. Those who are really against the U.S. from amongst the Iraqis have been and remain a small minority; all other forms of resentment are simply disappointment and disgruntlement resulting from the discomfiture of the present situation and will simply disappear with progress and gradual improvement.

As for the enemy, he will not reap but failure and the bitter taste of defeat.

Glory and honor to the U.S. and Allied men and women whose blood is irrigating the tree of freedom in this land; and their sacrifices, suffering, and toil is laying the foundation for a future renaissance of the Mesopotamian People. Hail soldiers of freedom and enlightenment. Do not be dismayed by the trouble and turbulence of the present, for the future generations will remember and appreciate.

And last but not least; Hail, Great El Bush, a leader not only of the U.S. but a true hero of mankind. And Hail Mr. Blair and the other Leaders of the Free World.

God Bless the New Republic of Iraq; God Bless America.

Wa Al Salaam Alaykum Wa rahamutu Allahi Wa Barakatuh

(Peace be upon you and the mercy of God and his blessings)

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