President George W. Bush on our goals in the Middle East: “And part of the war on terror was dealing with the dictator in Iraq. Part of making this country more secure and the world more peaceful was going into Iraq and removing a dictator who had defied resolution after resolution after resolution from the international community; a dictator with known terrorist connections; a dictator who had weapons of mass destruction. No, we sent in some of the bravest of the brave. And as a result — and as a result of their courage and sacrifice, America is more secure, the neighborhood is more peaceful, the world is more peaceful, and the Iraqi people are free.”
– Transcript, “President Meets with Nebraskans to Discuss Economic Growth,” George W. Bush – White House Archives online, Accessed on 7/18/2016