The
new Iraqi constitution received support from Iraqis of all ethnic and
religious backgrounds. Iraq's largest Sunni political party endorsed the
constitution and urged its followers to approve the draft. Many more
Sunnis participated in this vote than in January's historic elections,
and the level of violence was also dramatically lower. Even those who
voted against the constitution are now organizing and preparing for
elections in December.
Just 30 months removed from the rule of a dictator, and nine months
after they first elected their own leaders, the Iraqi people are
resolving tough issues through an inclusive political process. And this
process is isolating the extremists who wish to derail democracy through
violence and murder.
The terrorists were also watching the Iraqi vote. These brutal
killers follow a radical ideology that exploits Islam to serve a violent
political vision. They hope to establish a totalitarian state in Iraq
that denies all political and religious freedom, and they hope to use
that country as a base for attacks on all people -- Muslim and
non-Muslim alike -- who disagree with their twisted perversion of the
Muslim faith.
The terrorists' goals leave no room for individual conscience or
democratic participation, so they threatened to kill any Iraqi who went
to the polls, including women and the elderly, and even those who
opposed the constitution. And they continue to use random bombings to
try to break the will of the Iraqi people and of coalition forces, as we
saw again this week, when the terrorists bombed two Baghdad hotels.
Instead of surrendering to intimidation, the Iraqi people once again
risked their lives for their liberty. Instead of turning against one
another, the Iraqi people turned out to express their will at the polls.
And instead of allowing their nation to become a haven for terrorists,
the Iraqis are choosing democracy and freedom for their country.
The political process in Iraq now moves forward. Iraqis will return
to the polls in December to elect a new government under their new
constitution. This government will be our ally in the war on terror, a
partner in the struggle for peace and moderation in the Muslim world,
and an inspiration for people across the Middle East to claim their
liberty as well.
Our security at home is directly linked to a Middle East that grows
in freedom and peace. The success of the new Iraqi government is
critical to winning the war on terror and protecting the American
people. Ensuring that success will require more sacrifice, more time,
and more resolve, and it will involve more risk for Iraqis and for
American and coalition forces.
The progress we have made so far has involved great sacrifice. The
greatest burden has fallen on our military families. We've lost some of
our nation's finest men and women in the war on terror. Each of them has
left grieving families and loved ones back home. Each loss of life is
heartbreaking. Yet these patriots have also left a legacy that will
allow generations of their fellow Americans, and millions of others who
have only known oppression, to enjoy the blessings of liberty.
The best way to honor the sacrifice of our fallen troops is to
complete the mission and win the war on terror. We will train Iraqi
security forces and help a newly elected government meet the needs of
the Iraqi people. In doing so, we will lay the foundation of peace for
our children and grandchildren.
Thank you for listening.