BUSH REMAINS CONFIDENT FREEDOM WILL PREVAIL IN IRAQ...
KIA count hits 1,000...
Posted on 12/07/2004 11:42:45 AM PST by Happy2BMe
WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- In a meeting with Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer in the Oval Office, President George W. Bush said that it's "necessary" for the Iraqi people to vote on January 30 because it "provides an opportunity for people to participate in democracy." The president added that the elections will send a clear message to the "few people in Iraq that are trying to stop the march toward democracy that they cannot stop elections."
In remarks to reporters, the president thanked the Iraqi leader for his "courage and vision" for a "united and free Iraq."
"We talked about a variety of issues," Bush said. "We talked about how the United States can continue to stand with those who believe in democracy. We talked about the security situation. We talked about the election process. And I assured the President that my comments about the need to have elections was real and genuine."
President al-Yawer told reporters that he was honored to meet the president of the United States and said that Iraq is in debt to the U.S. for "liberating Iraq from a dynasty, a villain."
"Right now we are faced with the armies of darkness who are -- who have no objective but to undermine the political process and incite civil war in Iraq," al-Yawer said. "But I want to assure the whole world that this will never, ever happen; that we in Iraq are committed to move along. After all these sacrifices there is no way on earth that we will let it go in vain."
Al-Yawer added that victory for Iraq is "not only possible, it's a fact."
"We are committed," al-Yawer said. "We see that we have all the reasons to prevail. We see that our enemy is an enemy that has only a short time because they have no roots in the Iraqi society, they have no ideology that they can sell to Iraq or the whole world."
In addressing the insurgency problem, al-Yawer said there is an "unfairness by calling them Sunni insurgents -- these are not Sunni."
"These are a mix of people who have one thing in common: hatred to the Iraqi society and hatred to democracy, people who are trying to stop us from having our first elections," al-Yawer explained. "We in Iraq, the whole Iraqi society are willing to participate in elections. Nobody in Iraq wants to boycott the elections, except for some politicians."
Al-Yawer added, "But I'm talking about the mass public of Iraq; they all are very anxious to go and cast their votes and practice, for the first time in 45 years, their right and duty of voting for whoever they feel confidence in."
In comparing Monday's bombing in Saudi Arabia, Bush said that people are willing to blow up people by the use of car bombs and "will do anything they can to stop democracy, and there is a reason why -- because a free society in Iraq will be a major defeat for the terrorists."
"And I think that the capacity of these killers to stop an election would send a wrong signal to the world, and send a wrong signal to the Iraqi people, themselves," Bush added. "And we'll do everything we can, working with the Iraqis, to make the election sites as secure as possible. That's why the commanders on the ground have asked for additional troops -- to help with the election process. And I granted them that request, Mr. President. And our commanders, working with Ambassador Negroponte and the Iraqi security forces, believe they can do a lot to make these polling places secure. You can never guarantee a hundred percent security."
Congressman Billybob
I can speak for our troops in Baghdad in saying "Let the elections go forward!"
Postponing them only strengthens the resolve of the enemy, weakens the momentum of democracy, and sends the wrong signal of uncertainty and weakness to the people of Iraq.
Bearing in mind this will be the first election that the majority of Iraqis have ever witnessed or been a part of, it is natural that they are anxious if not even fearful of such a powerful change of going from a horrific monster as their dictator to them having a collective voice in their own government is earth shaking for them.
They will survive. Democracy will sprout and begin to grow. And Islamic terrorism will have been dealt a major blow of defeat in the world.
Thank you sir.
Billybob
_____________________________
Food for thought, sir:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.