Under Saddam Hussein’s oppressive rule, the people of Iraq have suffered. Iraq is a country rich with oil, but Saddam Hussein has squandered his people’s wealth on weapons of mass destruction and on building more than forty lavish palaces for himself.
As President George W. Bush said, the United States-led coalition is in Iraq with no ambition except to dispose of weapons of mass destruction, remove the Saddam Hussein regime, and restore control of that country to the Iraqi people:
“This nation and our coalition partners are committed to making sure that the Iraqi citizens who have suffered under a brutal tyrant have the food and medicine they need as soon as possible. And soon, the Iraqi people will see the great compassion of not only the United States, but other nations around the world who care deeply about the human condition inside that country.”
President Bush has asked the U.S. Congress to set aside more than two-billion dollars to create a new, flexible account for Iraqi relief and reconstruction. These funds will be used to provide food, water, and medicine to the people of Iraq. The money will also be used to repair damaged infrastructure, restore important government services, and keep Iraqi schools open. In the meantime, coalition forces have three-million daily ration packages for emergency situations, while more than six-hundred-thousand metric tons of U.S. food are in the pipeline for distribution to the Iraqi people.
The U.S.-led coalition is fighting against the Saddam Hussein regime, not the people of Iraq. As President Bush put it, “Iraq is a land rich in culture, resources, and talent.”
“Freed from the weight of oppression, Iraq’s people will be able to share in the progress and prosperity of our time. The United States and our allies will help the Iraqi people rebuild the economy and create the institutions of liberty in a unified Iraq at peace with its neighbors.”
The Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein will come to an end and the people of Iraq will be free.