Americans are a free people, who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world; it is God's gift to humanity.

Ultimately, success is going to be up to the reformers, just like in Iraq. It's going to require Iraqis, the will of Iraqis to succeed. I understand that. And that's why our strategy is to give them the tools necessary to defend themselves and help them defend themselves; in this case right now mainly in Baghdad, but as well around the country.

The legislature's job is to write law. It's the executive branch's job to interpret law.

Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called 'walking.'

Iraq and Afghanistan are now democracies and they are allies in the cause of freedom and peace.

Immigrants bring to America the values of faith in God, love of family, hard work and self reliance - the values that made us a great nation to begin with. We've all seen those values in action, through the service and sacrifice of more than 35,000 foreign-born men and women currently on active duty in the United States military.

I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein.