http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/images/20040525-3_p40920-30a-515h.html...who receive medical care in the United States during a meeting in the Oval Office Tuesday, May 25, 2004. The Iraqi citizens each had one hand cut off in Iraq during Saddam's rule. "They are examples of the brutality of the tyrant," said President Bush. "These men had hands restored because of the generosity and love of an American citizen. And I am so proud to welcome them to the Oval Office."
"THE PRESIDENT: What's imperative is that the Iraqi citizens develop a constitution that they can call their own, a constitution written and approved by Iraqis. As I said last night, our intention was never to have Iraq look like America. Our intention is for Iraq to be free and stable and whole -- at peace with its neighbors. A free Iraq will help change the history of the greater Middle East. A free Iraq will show the rest of the world that when people are given a chance to raise their families in peace and security, a civil society that's stable and hopeful will develop. And that's what we want. We want a society where -- where the men who've suffered so much because of the whims of one brutal man -- where their children can grow up and realize their full potential, where the schools work, where the health care system is good. And there's no doubt in my mind that Iraq can achieve this great dream and vision. And there's no doubt in my mind, some day their children will come to America and say, thank goodness America stood the line, and was strong, and did not falter in the face of the violence of a few."