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[casi] Full text: Blair's Open Letter To Iraq



Full text: Blair's open letter to Iraq
This is the text of the message from the prime minister, Tony Blair, to be distributed as a leaflet 
by British troops in Iraq:
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,929932,00.html
Friday April 4, 2003

"From Tony Blair

"As soon as Saddam Hussein's regime falls, the work to build a new free and united Iraq will begin. 
A peaceful, prosperous Iraq which will be run by and for the Iraqi people. Not by America, not by 
Britain, not by the UN - though all of us will help - but by you the people of Iraq.

"For the first time in 25 years you will be free from the shadow of Saddam and can look forward to 
a new beginning for your families and your country.

"That is already starting to happen in those parts of your country that have been liberated. But 
you want to know that we will stay to get the job done. You want to know that Saddam will be gone.

"I assure you: he will be. Then, coalition forces will make the country safe, and will work with 
the United Nations to help Iraq get back on its feet. We will continue to provide immediate 
humanitarian aid, and we will help with longer-term projects.

"Our troops will leave as soon as they can. They will not stay a day longer than necessary.

"We will make sure deliveries of vital aid such as food, medicine and drinking water get through.

"Our aim is to move as soon as possible to an interim authority run by Iraqis. This will pave the 
way for a truly representative Iraqi government, which respects human rights and the rule of law; 
develops public services; and spends Iraq's wealth not on palaces and weapons of mass destruction, 
but on schools and hospitals.

"The money from Iraqi oil will be yours. It will no longer be used by Saddam Hussein for his own 
benefit and that of his regime. It will be used to build prosperity for you and your families.

"You should be free to travel, free to have access to independent media, free to express your views.

"As we made clear from the start, this is not a war of conquest. This is a campaign that will end 
dictatorship, remove the weapons of mass destruction and liberate the Iraqi people so you can 
determine your own future - a better future. This is not a war on Iraq. This is a campaign against 
Saddam Hussein's regime.

"For too long the world ignored the plight of the Iraqi people. That was wrong. We know and 
understand that many of you live in fear of Saddam. We promise that the events of 1991 will not 
happen again. We have pledged to remove Saddam. And we will deliver. Once he is gone, we will help 
Iraq rebuild itself, and become once more a member of the international family of nations.

"In the spirit of true friendship and goodwill, we will do our utmost to help."

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

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