Text 2795, 101 rader
Skriven 2006-06-08 23:34:32 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060608) for Thu, 2006 Jun 8
==================================================
===========================================================================
Statement by the President on Death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 8, 2006

Statement by the President on Death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Rose Garden
Washington, D.C.

President's Remarks view


7:31 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Last night in Iraq, United States military
forces killed the terrorist al Zarqawi. At 6:15 p.m. Baghdad time, special
operation forces, acting on tips and intelligence from Iraqis, confirmed
Zarqawi's location, and delivered justice to the most wanted terrorist in
Iraq.

Zarqawi was the operational commander of the terrorist movement in Iraq. He
led a campaign of car bombings, assassinations and suicide attacks that has
taken the lives of many American forces and thousands of innocent Iraqis.
Osama bin Laden called this Jordanian terrorist "the prince of al Qaeda in
Iraq." He called on the terrorists around the world to listen to him and
obey him. Zarqawi personally beheaded American hostages and other civilians
in Iraq. He masterminded the destruction of the United Nations headquarters
in Baghdad. He was responsible for the assassination of an American
diplomat in Jordan, and the bombing of a hotel in Amman.

Through his every action, he sought to defeat America and our coalition
partners, and turn Iraq into a safe haven from which al Qaeda could wage
its war on free nations. To achieve these ends, he worked to divide Iraqis
and incite civil war. And only last week he released an audio tape
attacking Iraq's elected leaders, and denouncing those advocating the end
of sectarianism.

Now Zarqawi has met his end, and this violent man will never murder again.
Iraqis can be justly proud of their new government and its early steps to
improve their security. And Americans can be enormously proud of the men
and women of our armed forces, who worked tirelessly with their Iraqi
counterparts to track down this brutal terrorist and put him out of
business.

The operation against Zarqawi was conducted with courage and
professionalism by the finest military in the world. Coalition and Iraqi
forces persevered through years of near misses and false leads, and they
never gave up. Last night their persistence and determination were
rewarded. On behalf of all Americans, I congratulate our troops on this
remarkable achievement.

Zarqawi is dead, but the difficult and necessary mission in Iraq continues.
We can expect the terrorists and insurgents to carry on without him. We can
expect the sectarian violence to continue. Yet the ideology of terror has
lost one of its most visible and aggressive leaders.

Zarqawi's death is a severe blow to al Qaeda. It's a victory in the global
war on terror, and it is an opportunity for Iraq's new government to turn
the tide of this struggle. A few minutes ago I spoke to Prime Minister
Maliki. I congratulated him on close collaboration between coalition and
Iraqi forces that helped make this day possible. Iraq's freely elected
Prime Minister is determined to defeat our common enemies and bring
security and the rule of law to all its people.

Earlier this morning he announced the completion of his cabinet
appointments, with the naming of a new Minister of Defense, a new Minister
of the Interior, and a new Minister of State for National Security. These
new ministers are part of a democratic government that represents all
Iraqis. They will play a vital role as the Iraqi government addresses its
top priorities -- reconciliation and reconstruction and putting an end to
the kidnappings and beheadings and suicide bombings that plague the Iraqi
people. I assured Prime Minister Maliki that he will have the full support
of the United States of America.

On Monday I will meet with my national security team and other key members
of my Cabinet at Camp David to discuss the way forward in Iraq. Our top
diplomats and military commanders in Iraq will give me an assessment of
recent changes in the political and economic and security situation on the
ground. On Tuesday, Iraq's new Ambassador to the United States will join
us, and we will have a teleconference discussion with the Prime Minister
and members of his cabinet. Together we will discuss how to best deploy
America's resources in Iraq and achieve our shared goal of an Iraq that can
govern itself, defend itself and sustain itself.

We have tough days ahead of us in Iraq that will require the continued
patience of the American people. Yet the developments of the last 24 hours
give us renewed confidence in the final outcome of this struggle: the
defeat of terrorism threats, and a more peaceful world for our children and
grandchildren.

May God bless the Iraqi people and may God continue to bless America.

END 7:37 A.M. EDT
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060608.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)