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Skriven 2005-10-15 23:33:14 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (051015) for Sat, 2005 Oct 15
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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release
October 15, 2005

President's Radio Address


ÿÿÿÿÿAudio
ÿÿÿÿÿIn Focus: Renewal in Iraq
ÿÿÿÿÿ

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This weekend is a momentous time in the
history of the Middle East. After choosing their leaders in free elections
in January, the Iraqi people have gone to the polls to vote on a democratic
constitution. This constitution is the result of months of debate and
compromise by representatives of Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious
communities. These leaders came together to produce a document that
protects fundamental freedoms and lays the foundation for a lasting
democracy. Earlier this week, the Iraqi people embraced changes to the text
that have led to its endorsement by some Sunni leaders, as well as Kurdish
and Shia leaders. Now the people of Iraq will have the final say.

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By casting their ballots, the Iraqi people deal a severe blow to the
terrorists and send a clear message to the world: Iraqis will decide the
future of their country through peaceful elections, not violent insurgency.

This weekend's election is a critical step forward in Iraq's march toward
democracy, and with each step the Iraqi people take, al Qaeda's vision for
the region becomes more remote. As Iraqis prepared for this election, the
world learned of a letter written by a leading terrorist explaining why
Iraq is the central front in their war on civilization. Al Qaeda's number
two leader, a man named Zawahiri, wrote to his chief deputy in Iraq, the
terrorist Zarqawi. We intercepted this letter, and we have released it to
the public. In it, Zawahiri lays out why al Qaeda views Iraq as "the place
for the greatest battle" of our day.

He says that establishing al Qaeda's dominion over Iraq is the first step
towards their larger goal of imposing Islamic radicalism across the broader
Middle East. Zawahiri writes: "The jihad in Iraq requires several
incremental goals. The first stage: Expel the Americans from Iraq. The
second stage: Establish an Islamic authority over as much territory as you
can to spread its power in Iraq. The third stage: Extend the jihad wave to
the secular countries neighboring Iraq."

This letter shows that al Qaeda intends to make Iraq a terrorist haven and
a staging ground for attacks against other nations, including the United
States. The letter makes equally clear that the terrorists have a problem:
Their campaign of murder and mayhem is turning the people against them. The
letter warns Zarqawi that, "many of your Muslim admirers amongst the common
folk are wondering about your attacks on the Shia." Even al Qaeda
recognizes that with every random bombing and every funeral of a child, the
Muslim world sees the terrorists for what they really are: murderers at war
with the Iraqi people.

These terrorists are driven by an ideology that exploits Islam to serve a
violent political vision: the establishment of a totalitarian empire that
denies political and religious freedom. This is why the terrorists have
fought to prevent and disrupt this weekend's elections. They understand
that the act of voting is a rejection of them and their distorted vision of
Islam. Simply by coming out to vote, the Iraqi people have shown that they
want to live in freedom, and they will not accept a return to tyranny and
terror.

The terrorists know their only chance for success is to break our will and
force us to retreat. The al Qaeda letter points to Vietnam as a model.
Zawahiri says: "The aftermath of the collapse of American power in Vietnam,
and how they ran and left their agents, is noteworthy." Al Qaeda believes
that America can be made to run again. They are gravely mistaken. America
will not run, and we will not forget our responsibilities.

In Iraq, we have brought down a murderous regime. We have stood by the
Iraqi people through two elections, and we will stand by them until they
have established a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself, and
defend itself. When we do, Iraq will be an ally in the war on terror and a
partner for peace and moderation in the Muslim world. And because America
stood firm in this important fight, our children and grandchildren will be
safer and more secure.

Thank you for listening.

END

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