31 March 2003 - How Bush could win this war 

This war is threatening to last for a long time and create enormous problems in a future world. But it doesn't have to. The war against Saddam's regime in Iraq could go well and be over in a couple of days but it would take something special by Bush. Here is the kind of speech he would have to give and then act on. But will he?

Today, I would like to say a few important things firstly to the people of Iraq, and to Muslims around the world, and to the world at large. 

Recently, I have been looking into some alternative perspectives on events that have brought us to this war. I was prompted by discovering the reasons Richard Perle had to resign from his post. As the president of this great country, I now feel I have failed to do my duty. But I am not someone who runs away from problems and I will tackle this one head on.

Firstly, from now on, I shall be seeking advisors from a wide range of people who are not usually well represented by the powerful lobbies in Washington. I have understood that the United States has made numerous mistakes by letting money dictate political policy. Instead of government by the people, for the people and of the people. Much of our actions, not just in my own presidency, but of presidents over many years, have been at the service of the rich and often harmful to the people. We have supported governments around the world, not on the basis of how they serve their people, but on how they ensure profits for US companies. Sometimes our policy has been directed squarely against the will of the people. We have played key roles in installing dictators and removing democratically elected leaders. We have supported regimes across the world which oppress and even torture their own people, because, quite simply, we did not trust the will of the people.

Given this history, there is little reason for the people in many countries - and indeed inside the United States - to trust the United States government. In Iraq, we were instrumental in putting Saddam into power as a dictator, we supported him during his aggression against Iran where the people had just overthrown another dictator which we had installed. We supported Saddam as he used all kinds of torture and oppression against his own people. Then, in 1991 my father made peace with him just in time to enable him to crush brutally the uprising of the people of Iraq. Then we had 12 years of sanctions that weakened the population further and only made Saddam's position stronger within the country. Why should the people of Iraq trust the USA when we have shown so much distrust for the choices of the people of Iraq? Why should the people trust the USA when we have shown so much distrust for their choices in Iran, Palestine, Chile, Indonesia, Algeria and many other countries around the world?

Well, we have learned our lesson. We understand that it is our past mistrust of people to run their own affairs that has led to our support of oppressors. And it is our support of oppressors at the expense of the people that has caused the frustrations and resentment which are at the origins of terrorism. We regret the suffering we have caused the Iraqi people, through sanctions, through putting and keeping Saddam in power and through the effects of this war and other wars. We regret our mistrust of the people in the middle east generally to run their own affairs. We ask the people of Iraq and the middle east to forgive us.

We are going to change. We don't expect you to trust us just like that. Actions speak louder than words and we hope to persuade you by our actions. We will take action to support freedom and democracy around the world. Even if we don't like its results in the short term, we believe that in the long term the results will be good for all concerned.

Firstly, we are going to take action to establish freedom and justice for the Palestinians. The right for Jews to live in peace does not need to come at the expense of killing or expelling Palestinians from their homes, land and businesses. We will set out a series of steps that Israel must take to ensure that Palestinians get peace and justice. Failure to meet these specific conditions in any way will result in a suspension of all aid. Continued failure over time will result in an imposition of trade sanctions and if the Israeli people still insist on denying Palestinians their freedom; their God given rights; their right to choose their own leaders, then we will use all necessary means to bring this about.

Secondly, we will remove the Saddam regime and we will pay for much of the reconstruction of a democratic and free Iraq. Withdrawing now would only be a further betrayal of the people of Iraq. We are responsible for much of the harm done to the Iraqi people and we will try to make up for it by helping the Iraqi people build a new model state.

There is much we need to do to right the wrongs we have done in the past. We need to earn the trust of the people of Iraq and of the wider Muslim world. To do this we need to show that we trust them to run their own affairs democratically.  We apologise for our failure to do so and promise to become above all the supporter of the will of the people through our foreign policy. We will make sure that Iraqis become free to choose their own government. If they ask us to leave at that point we will be more than happy to do so. Our interests lie not in occupation of Iraq but in doing what is right for the Iraqi people. The will of the people must be the source of legitimacy for governments. It was this source that established the legitimacy of the very first Muslim rulers after Muhammad and it can be once again.

Last but absolutely not least, I ask God to forgive me for my mistakes and to guide me. 

God bless the people of Iraq.

God bless America.