President George W. Bush
Documents & Texts from the White House
13 January 2008
President Bush Discusses Importance of Freedom in the Middle East
Emirates Palace Hotel
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3:50 P.M. (Local)
THE PRESIDENT: Doctor Aida, thank you very much for the kind
introduction. Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and
distinguished guests: I am honored by the opportunity to stand on Arab
soil and speak to the people of this nation and this region.
Throughout the sweep of history, the lands that the Arab people
call home have played a pivotal role in world affairs. These lands sit
at the juncture of three great continents -- Europe and Asia and Africa.
These lands have given birth to three of the world's major religions.
These lands have seen the rise and fall of great civilizations. And in
the 21st century, these lands are once again playing a central role in
the human story.
A great new era is unfolding before us. This new era is founded on
the equality of all people before God. This new era is being built with
the understanding that power is a trust that must be exercised with the
consent of the governed -- and deliver equal justice under the law. And
this new era offers hope for the millions across the Middle East who
yearn for a future of peace and progress and opportunity.
Here in Abu Dhabi, we see clearly the outlines of this future.
Beginning with the revered father of this country -- Sheikh Zayed -- you
have succeeded in building a prosperous society out of the desert. You
have opened your doors to the world economy. You have encouraged women
to contribute to the development of your nation -- and they have
occupied some of your highest ministerial posts. You have held historic
elections for the Federal National Council. You have shown the world a
model of a Muslim state that is tolerant toward people of other faiths.
I'm proud to stand in a nation where the people have an opportunity to
build a better future for themselves and their families. Thank you for
your warm hospitality.
In my country, we speak of these developments as the advance of
freedom. Others may call it the advance of justice. Yet whatever term
we use, the ideal is the same. In a free and just society, every person
is treated with dignity. In a free and just society, leaders are
accountable to those they govern. And in a free and just society,
individuals can rise as far as their talents and hard work will take
them.
For decades, the people of this region saw their desire for liberty
and justice denied at home and dismissed abroad in the name of
stability. Today your aspirations are threatened by violent extremists
who murder the innocent in pursuit of power. These extremists have
hijacked the noble religion of Islam, and seek to impose their
totalitarian ideology on millions. They hate freedom and they hate
democracy -- because it fosters religious tolerance and allows people to
chart their own future. They hate your government because it does not
share their dark vision. They hate the United States because they know
we stand with you in opposition to their brutal ambitions. And
everywhere they go, they use murder and fear to foment instability to
advance their aims.
One cause of instability is the extremists supported and embodied
by the regime that sits in Tehran. Iran is today the world's leading
state sponsor of terror. It sends hundreds of millions of dollars to
extremists around the world -- while its own people face repression and
economic hardship at home. It undermines Lebanese hopes for peace by
arming and aiding the terrorist group Hezbollah. It subverts the hopes
for peace in other parts of the region by funding terrorist groups like
Hamas and the Palestine Islamic Jihad. It sends arms to the Taliban in
Afghanistan and Shia militants in Iraq. It seeks to intimidate its
neighbors with ballistic missiles and bellicose rhetoric. And finally,
it defies the United Nations and destabilizes the region by refusing to
be open and transparent about its nuclear programs and ambitions.
Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere. So the
United States is strengthening our longstanding security commitments
with our friends in the Gulf -- and rallying friends around the world to
confront this danger before it is too late.
The other major cause of instability is the extremists embodied by
al Qaeda and its affiliates. On September 11, 2001, al Qaeda murdered
nearly 3,000 people on America's home soil. Some of the victims that
day were innocent Muslims. And since then, al Qaeda and its allies have
killed many more Muslims here in the Middle East -- including women and
children. In Afghanistan under the Taliban, on Iraq's Anbar Province,
they ruled by intimidation and murder. Their goal is to impose that
same dark rule across the Middle East. So they seek to topple your
governments, acquire weapons of mass destruction, and drive a wedge
between the people of the United States and the people of the Middle
East. And they will fail. The United States joins you in your
commitment to the freedom and security of this region -- and we will not
abandon you to terrorists or extremists.
The fight against the forces of extremism is the great ideological
struggle of our time. And in this fight, our nations have a weapon more
powerful than bombs or bullets. It is the desire for freedom and
justice written into our hearts by Almighty God -- and no terrorist or
tyrant can take that away. We see this desire in the 12 million Iraqis
who dipped their fingers in purple ink as they voted in defiance of al
Qaeda. We see the desire in the Palestinians who elected a President
committed to peace and reconciliation. We see this desire in the
thousands of Lebanese whose protests helped rid their country of a
foreign occupier. And we see this desire in the brave dissidents and
journalists who speak out against terror and oppression and injustice.
We see this desire in the ordinary people across the Middle East, who
are sick of violence, who are sick of corruption, sick of empty promises
-- and who choose a free future whenever they are given a chance.
We also see leaders across this region beginning to respond to the
desires of their people -- and take the steps that will help enhance the
stability and prosperity of their nations. The recent elections to your
Federal National Council represent the first part of a larger reform
designed to make your government more modern and more representative.
Algeria held its first competitive presidential elections. Kuwait held
elections in which women were allowed to vote and hold office for the
first time. Citizens have voted in municipal elections in Saudi Arabia,
in competitive parliamentary elections in Jordan and Morocco and
Bahrain, and in a multiparty presidential election in Yemen. Across the
world, the majority of Muslim people live in a free and democratic
society -- and the people of the Middle East must continue to work for
the day where that is also true of the lands that Islam first called
home.
As freedom and justice advance in this part of the world, elections
are important, but they're only a start. Free and just societies
require strong civic institutions, such as houses of worship,
universities, professional associations, local governments and community
groups. Free and just societies require habits of self-government that
contribute to the rule of law. And free and just societies ultimately
depend on the emergence of an engaged public whose citizens feel they
have a real stake in their nation's future. All these developments
contribute to the bond between government and the governed, between a
people and their nation.
Free and just societies also create opportunities for their
citizens. This opportunity begins with economic growth. In any
society, the greatest resource is not the oil in the ground or the
minerals beneath the soil. It is the skills and talents of the people.
Or as one Nobel winning economist calls this human capital. Across this
region, you have an abundance of human capital -- in the men and women
who are your citizens. By strengthening your education systems and
opening your economies, you will unlock their potential, create vibrant
and entrepreneurial societies, and usher in a new era where people have
confidence that tomorrow will bring more opportunities than today.
In the last few years, the nations of this region have made some
great progress. The World Bank reports that economic growth is strong
and it is rising. Saudi Arabia has joined the World Trade Organization.
Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, and Morocco have signed free trade agreements
with the United States. Your nations are attracting more foreign
investment. Oil accounts for much of the economic growth here. But the
nations of the Middle East are now investing in their people, and
building infrastructure, and opening the door to foreign trade and
investment. America supports you in these efforts. We believe that
trade and investment is the key to the future of hope and opportunity.
We also believe that as we demand you open your markets we should open
ours, as well. We're encouraged by the movement toward economic freedom
that we're seeing across the Middle East.
Unfortunately, amid some steps forward in this region we've also
seen some setbacks. You cannot build trust when you hold an election
where opposition candidates find themselves harassed or in prison. You
cannot expect people to believe in the promise of a better future when
they are jailed for peacefully petitioning their government. And you
cannot stand up a modern and confident nation when you do not allow
people to voice their legitimate criticisms.
The United States appreciates that democratic progress requires
tough choices. Our own history teaches us that the road to freedom is
not always even, and democracy does not come overnight. Yet we also
know that for all the difficulties, a society based on liberty is worth
the sacrifice. We know that democracy is the only form of government
that treats individuals with the dignity and equality that is their
right. We know from experience that democracy is the only system of
government that yields lasting peace and stability. In a democracy,
leaders depend on their people -- and most people do not want war and
bloodshed and violence. Most people want lives of peace and
opportunity. So it is the declared policy of the United States to
support these peoples as they claim their freedom -- as a matter of
natural right and national interest.
I recognize that some people -- including some in my own country --
believe it is a mistake to support democratic freedom in the Middle
East. They say that the Arab people are not "ready" for democracy. Of
course, that is exactly what people said about the Japanese after World
War II. Some said that having an Emperor was incompatible with
democracy. Some said that the Japanese religion was incompatible with
democracy. Some said that advancing freedom in Japan and the Pacific
was unwise, because our interests lay in supporting pro-American leaders
no matter how they ruled their people.
Fortunately, America rejected this advice, kept our faith in
freedom, and stood with the people of Asia. The results are now in.
Today the people of Japan have both a working democracy and a hereditary
emperor. They have preserved their traditional religious practices
while tolerating the faiths of others. They are surrounded by many
democracies that reflect the full diversity of the region. Some of
these democracies have constitutional monarchies, some have parliaments,
and some have presidents. Some of these democracies have Christian
majorities, some have Muslim majorities, some have Hindu or Buddhist
majorities. Yet for all the differences, the free nations of Asia all
derive their authority from the consent of the governed -- and all know
the lasting stability that only freedom can bring.
This transformation would not have been possible without America's
presence and perseverance over many decades. And just as our commitment
to Asia helped people there secure their freedom and prosperity, our
commitment to the Middle East will help you achieve yours. And you can
know from our record in Asia that our commitment is real, it is strong,
and it is lasting.
Today America is using its influence to foster peace and
reconciliation in the Holy Land. The Israelis have raised a thriving
modern society out of rocky soil, and want to live their lives in
freedom and security at home and at peace with their neighbors. The
Palestinian people aspire to build a nation of their own -- where they
can live in dignity and realize their dreams. Today Israelis and
Palestinians each understand that the only way to realize their own
goals is by helping one another. In other words, an independent,
viable, democratic, and peaceful Palestinian state is more than the
dream of the Palestinians. It's also the best guarantee for peace for
all its neighbors -- and the Israelis understand this. Leaders on both
sides still have many tough decisions ahead, and they will need to back
these decisions with real commitments. But the time has come for a Holy
Land where Palestinian and Israeli live together in peace.
America will do our part. In Annapolis in November, the United
States invited the Israelis and the Palestinians, and other members of
the international community to come to a conference. And I appreciate
the fact that your country sent a delegate. It was a remarkable thing
to see a Palestinian President and an Israeli Prime Minister address a
roomful of Arab leaders together. And the result was that the
Palestinians and Israelis launched negotiations for the establishment of
a Palestinian state and a broader peace.
The talks are just beginning, and our hopes are high. At the
beginning of my trip, I met with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
I was impressed by their commitment to move forward. And by supporting
the legitimate aspirations of both sides, we will encourage
reconciliation between the Israeli and Palestinian people, foster
reconciliation between Israelis and Arabs, and build a foundation for
lasting peace that will contribute to the security of every state in the
Gulf.
And as you build a Middle East growing in peace and prosperity, the
United States will be your partner. As we have done in places from Asia
to Europe, we have forged new relationships with friends and allies
designed to help you protect your people and your borders. As we have
done in places from Asia to Europe, we're helping you bring your
economies into the global market. And as we have done in places from
Asia to Europe, we have launched programs designed to help you promote
economic reform and educational opportunity and political participation.
The United States has no desire for territory. We seek our shared
security in your liberty. We believe that stability can only come
through a free and just Middle East -- where the extremists are
marginalized by millions of moms and dads who want the same
opportunities for their children that we have for ours.
So today I would like to speak directly to the people of the Middle
East.
To the Palestinian people: The dignity and sovereignty that is your
right is within your reach. In President Abbas, you have a leader who
understands that the path forward is through peaceful negotiations.
Help him as he makes the tough decisions for peace. Oppose the
extremists and terrorists who represent the greatest threat to a
Palestinian state. The United States will help you build the
institutions of democracy and prosperity -- and make your dreams of a
state come true.
To the people of Israel: You know that peace and reconciliation with
your neighbors is the best path to long-term security. We believe that
peace is possible, though it requires tough decisions. The United
States will always stand with Israel in the face of terrorism. And we
will support you as you work to ensure the security of your people --
and bring peace and reconciliation to the Holy Land.
To the people of Iraq: You have made your choice for democracy, and you
have stood firm in face of terrible acts of murder. The terrorists and
extremists cannot prevail. They are tormented by the sight of an old
man voting, or a young girl going to school -- because they know a
successful democracy is a mortal threat to their ambitions. The United
States is fighting side by side with Sunni and Shia and Kurd to root out
the terrorists and extremists. We have dealt them serious blows. The
United States will continue to support you as you build the institutions
of a free society. And together we'll defeat our common enemies.
To the people of Iran: You are rich in culture and talent. You have a
right to live under a government that listens to your wishes, respects
your talents, and allows you to build better lives for your families.
Unfortunately, your government denies you these opportunities, and
threatens the peace and stability of your neighbors. So we call on the
regime in Tehran to heed your will, and to make itself accountable to
you. The day will come when the people of Iran have a government that
embraces liberty and justice, and Iran joins the community of free
nations. And when that good day comes, you will have no better friend
than the United States of America.
To the leaders across the Middle East who are fighting the extremists:
The United States will stand with you as you confront the terrorists and
radicals. We urge you to join us in committing the resources to help
the Palestinians build the institutions of a free society. Help the
citizens of Lebanon preserve their government and their sovereignty in
the face of outside pressure from their neighbors. Show the Iraqis that
you support them in their effort to build a more hopeful nation. And as
you do these things, the best way to defeat the extremists in your midst
is by opening your societies, and trusting in your people, and giving
them a voice in their nation.
And finally, to the people of the Middle East: We hear your cries for
justice. We share your desire for a free and prosperous future. And as
you struggle to find your voice and make your way in this world, the
United States will stand with you.
For most of the world, there's no greater symbol of America than the
Statue of Liberty. It was designed by a man who traveled widely in this
part of the world -- and who had originally envisioned his woman bearing
a torch as standing over the Suez Canal. Ultimately, of course, it was
erected in New York Harbor, where it has been an inspiration to
generations of immigrants. One of these immigrants was a poet-writer
named Ameen Rihani. Gazing at her lamp held high, he wondered whether
her sister might be erected in the lands of his Arab forefathers. Here
is how he put it: "When will you turn your face toward the East, oh
Liberty?"
My friends, a future of liberty stands before you. It is your right.
It is your dream. And it is your destiny.
God bless. (Applause.)
END 4:13 P.M. (Local)
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