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Skriven 2005-06-25 23:33:10 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050625) for Sat, 2005 Jun 25
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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release
June 25, 2005

President's Radio Address


ÿÿÿÿÿAudio
ÿÿÿÿÿ

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.

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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.
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