Text 1292, 132 rader
Skriven 2005-08-28 23:33:06 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0508281) for Sun, 2005 Aug 28
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President Discusses Hurricane Katrina, Congratulates Iraqis on Draft
Constitution
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 28, 2005

President Discusses Hurricane Katrina, Congratulates Iraqis on Draft
Constitution
Prairie Chapel Ranch
Crawford, Texas



11:31 A.M. CDT

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.

END 11:39 A.M. CDT

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