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.