On April 16, 2003, Commander of Coalition Forces General Tommy Franks distributed a ‘Freedom Message to the Iraqi People.’ It read: ” ‘Coalition Forces in Iraq have come as liberators, not as conquerors. We have come to eliminate an oppressive and aggressive regime that refused to comply with UN Security Council resolutions requiring the destruction of weapons of mass destruction. The Coalition is committed to helping the people of Iraq heal their wounds, build their own representative government, become a free and independent people and regain a respected place in the world. We will ensure that Iraq’s oil is protected as a national asset of and for the Iraqi people. Iraq and its property belong to the Iraqi people and the Coalition makes no claim of ownership by force of arms.’ ”
– Tommy Franks with Malcolm McConnell, American Soldier, Pages 428-429