|
US President George W. Bush
| | THE PRESIDENT:
Good morning. This past week, I had the
honor of hosting Prime Minister Jaafari -- the leader of Iraq's first
democratically-elected government in more than a half century.
Prime Minister Jaafari and I discussed our strong partnership, and the
dramatic progress his nation has made over the past year. Next Tuesday is
the first anniversary of the moment the Iraqi people reclaimed their free
and sovereign nation. To mark that historic date, I will travel to Fort
Bragg, North Carolina, to speak to our troops and the American people
about our mission in Iraq, why it remains important to our safety here at
home, and our two-track strategy for victory.
The military track
of our strategy is to defeat the terrorists and continue helping Iraqis
take greater responsibility for defending their freedom. The images we see
on television are a grim reminder that the enemies of freedom in Iraq are
ruthless killers with no regard for human life. The killers include
members of Saddam Hussein's regime, criminal elements and foreign
terrorists. The terrorists know that Iraq is a central front in the war on
terror, because they know that a stable and democratic Iraq will deal a
severe blow to their ideology of oppression and fear.
The terrorists' objective is to break the will of America and of the
Iraqi people before democracy can take root. Insurgents have tried to
achieve that goal before. Two years ago, they tried to intimidate the
Iraqi Governing Council -- and failed. Last year, they tried to delay the
transfer of sovereignty to Iraq -- and failed. This year, they tried to
stop the free Iraqi elections -- and failed. Now the terrorists are trying
to undermine the new government and intimidate Iraqis from joining the
growing Iraqi security forces.
Yet democracy is moving forward, and more and more Iraqis are defying
the terrorists by joining the democratic process. Our military strategy is
clear: We will train Iraqi security forces so they can defend their
freedom and protect their people, and then our troops will return home
with the honor they have earned.
The political track of our strategy is to continue helping Iraqis build
the institutions of a stable democracy. The Iraqi people have taken
landmark steps by voting in free elections and forming a representative
government. Prime Minister Jaafari has assured me that his government is
committed to meeting its deadline to draft a new constitution for a free
Iraq. Then the constitution will be submitted to the Iraqi people for
approval, and new elections will be held to choose a fully constitutional
government.
These are monumental tasks for the new democracy of Iraq -- and the
free world will continue to stand behind the Iraqi people. This past week,
more than 80 countries and international organizations came together in
Brussels to discuss how to help Iraqis provide for their security and
rebuild their country. And next month, donor countries will meet in Jordan
to discuss Iraqi reconstruction.
Our nation's mission in Iraq is difficult, and we can expect more tough
fighting in the weeks and months ahead. Yet I am confident in the outcome.
The Iraqi people are growing in optimism and hope. They understand that
the violence is only a part of the reality in Iraq. Each day, Iraqis are
exercising new freedoms that they were denied for decades. Schools,
hospitals, roads, and post offices are being built to serve the needs of
all Iraqis. Increasing numbers of Iraqis are overcoming their fears and
working actively to defeat the insurgents. And every Iraqi who chooses the
side of freedom has chosen the winning side.
Americans can be proud of all that we and our coalition partners have
accomplished in Iraq. Our country has been tested before, and we have a
long history of resolve and faith in the cause of freedom. Now we will see
that cause to victory in Iraq. A democratic Iraq will be a powerful
setback to the terrorists who seek to harm our nation. A democratic Iraq
will be a great triumph in the history of liberty. And a democratic Iraq
will be a source of peace for our children and grandchildren.
Thank you for listening. |