THE
PRESIDENT: This morning I spoke with FEMA Undersecretary Mike Brown and
emergency management teams not only at the federal level but at the
state level about the -- Hurricane Katrina. I've also spoken to Governor
Blanco of Louisiana, Governor Barbour of Mississippi, Governor Bush of
Florida, and Governor Riley of Alabama. I want to thank all the folks at
the federal level and the state level and the local level who have taken
this storm seriously. I appreciate the efforts of the governors to
prepare their citizenry for this upcoming storm.
Yesterday, I signed a disaster declaration for the state of
Louisiana, and this morning I signed a disaster declaration for the
state of Mississippi. These declarations will allow federal agencies to
coordinate all disaster relief efforts with state and local officials.
We will do everything in our power to help the people in the communities
affected by this storm.
Hurricane Katrina is now designated a category five hurricane. We
cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses to Gulf Coast
communities. I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety
of their families first by moving to safe ground. Please listen
carefully to instructions provided by state and local officials.
On another matter, today Iraqi political leaders completed the
process for drafting a permanent constitution. Their example is an
inspiration to all who share the universal values of freedom, democracy,
and the rule of law. The negotiators and drafters of this document
braved the intimidation of terrorists and they mourn the cowardly
assassination of friends and colleagues involved in the process of
drafting the constitution.
Their efforts follow the bravery of the Iraqis who voted by the
millions to elect a transitional government in January. The example of
those voters remains a humbling testament to the power of free people to
shape and define their own destiny. We honor their courage and
sacrifice, and we are determined to see the Iraqis fully secure their
democratic gains.
The Iraqi people have once again demonstrated to the world that they
are up to the historic challenges before them. The document they have
produced contains far-reaching protections for fundamental human
freedoms, including religion, assembly, conscience and expression. It
vests sovereignty in the people to be expressed by secret ballot and
regular elections. It declares that all Iraqis are equal before the law
without regard to gender, ethnicity and religion. This is a document of
which the Iraqis and the rest of the world can be proud.
The local process now advances to another important stage for a new
and free Iraq. In coming months, Iraqis will discuss and debate the
draft constitution. On October the 15th, they will vote for a national
referendum to decide whether to ratify the constitution and set the
foundation for a permanent Iraqi government. If the referendum succeeds,
Iraqis will elect a new government to serve under the new constitution
on December the 15th, and that government will take office before the
end of the year.
This course is going to be difficult largely because the terrorists
have chosen to wage war against a future of freedom. They are waging war
against peace in Iraq. As democracy in Iraq takes root, the enemies of
freedom, the terrorists, will become more desperate, more despicable,
and more vicious.
Just last week, the terrorists called for the death of anyone,
including women and the elderly, who supports the democratic process in
Iraq. They have deliberately targeted children receiving candy from
soldiers. They have targeted election workers registering Iraqis to
vote. They have targeted hospital workers who are caring for the
wounded. We can expect such atrocities to increase in the coming months
because the enemy knows that its greatest defeat lies in the expression
of free people, and freely enacted laws, and at the ballot box.
We will stand with the Iraqi people. It's in our interest to stand
with the Iraqi people. It's in our interest to lay the foundation of
peace. We'll help them confront this barbarism, and we will triumph over
the terrorist's dark ideology of hatred and fear.
There have been disagreements amongst the Iraqis about this
particular constitution. Of course there's disagreements. We're watching
a political process unfold, a process that has encouraged debate and
compromise; a constitution that was written in a -- in a society in
which people recognize that -- that there had to be give and take.
I want our folks to remember our own constitution was not unanimously
received. Some delegates at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787 refused
to sign it, and the draft was vigorously debated in every state, and the
outcome was not assured until all the votes were counted.
We recognize that there's a split amongst the Sunnis, for example, in
Iraq. And I suspect that when you get down to it, you'll find a Shiia
who disagrees with the constitution and Shiia who support the
constitution, and perhaps some Kurds who are concerned about the
constitution. In other words, we're watching a political process unfold.
Some Sunnis have expressed reservations about various provisions of the
constitution, and that's their right as free individuals living in a
free society. There are strong beliefs among other Sunnis that this
constitution is good for all Iraqis and that it adequately reflects
compromises suitable to all groups.
It's important that all Iraqis now actively engage in the
constitutional process by debating the merits of this important document
and making an informed decision on October the 15th.
On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Iraq
on completing the next step in their transition from dictatorship to
democracy. And I want to remind the American people, as the democracy
unfolds in Iraq, not only will it help make America more secure, but it
will affect the broader Middle East. Democracies don't war with their
neighbors; democracies don't become safe haven for terrorists who want
to destroy innocent life. We have hard work ahead of us, but we're on
the -- we're making good progress toward making sure this world of ours
is more peaceful for generations to come.
Thank you very much.