This country owes a huge debt to the men and women who serve to protect our freedom and peace.  The war that was waged in Iraq was not against the people of that country but against a ruthless dictator.  Our forces are stabilizing the area and providing much needed humanitarian assistance, but the road to recovery will be neither quick nor easy. 

On April 16th of this year, as the "combat war" was coming to an end, I sent President Bush a letter asking him to pursue a new "coalition of the willing" to reconstruct Iraq.  This is an enormous task that will be extremely difficult to carry out alone.  The circumstances surrounding this liberated nation are unlike any our country has ever faced.  We have the chance to establish freedom and opportunity for a people long burdened by the heavy yoke of oppression. 

We must use all the resources available to us to build a new Iraq.  As our country continues to bring terrorists to justice, our goal is to leave Iraq as soon as possible.  But order must first be restored.  The U.N. was created to coordinate international missions like reconstruction and peace-keeping.  This is the moment of truth for this international body to either step up and fulfill its charter in Iraq or become an ineffective and outdated institution.  My statements are consistent with President Bush.  The U.S. should lead the international occupation but the U.N. and the world must play a greater role and should consider a new resolution of support for the peace keeping mission.  The terrorists crossing the border to attack the liberators must see the world coming to the aid of the Iraqi people, not just the United States. 

Our troops are doing an incredible job, but they are also growing weary.  We cannot continue at this level of intensity indefinitely.  It is necessary to call on the U.N. to help rebuild Iraq or close its doors.