Remarks at Halabja Mass Grave Site Ceremony

Thank you so much, Mr. Barzani, for your words and for that kind introduction. It's a great honor for me to be here today and to see the assembled citizens of this town that is now marked in history forever, and to see this beautiful monument.

This is a very special place and I should say something special to you. What can I say to you? I cannot tell you that choking mothers died holding their choking babies to their chests. You know that. I cannot tell you that Saddam Hussein was a murderous tyrant. You know that. I cannot tell you that the world should have acted sooner. You know that. I cannot tell you of the suffering of those who were poisoned but nevertheless lived. You know that.

What I can tell you is that what happened here in 1988 is never going to happen again. Chemical Ali is in jail. He will stay in jail until an Iraqi court decides his fate. Saddam is running and hiding. He is going to keep running and keep hiding until we catch him or until he dies. Beyond that, the system that spawned them, a system of coups and plots and assassins is smashed and will never return.

Right now, Iraqis of many faiths, many heritages, run the day-to-day affairs of Iraq. Fairly soon, you will vote on a new permanent constitution and then, on a new government. That new government will answer to the people of Iraq, will be accountable to you for its actions.

If some future tyrant should try to turn the armed forces against the Iraqi people, he will find officers and men who have sworn their loyalty not to him, but to the new constitution.

The 5000 men and women and children murdered in Halabja live in the memory of those who knew them. And those who knew them constructed a museum so that others might always remember them.

By your actions here at this spot and by the construction of this museum, you have made sure that you will never forget but above all, the world will never forget. And I will always remember Halabja.

Thank you very much.