WASHINGTON, Nov 1: President George Bush on Saturday said “terrorists and the Baathists hope to weaken our will — our will cannot be shaken.”
In a radio address, the US President said: “We’re being tested, and America and our allies will not fail. We will honour the sacrifice of the fallen by ensuring that the cause for which they fought and died is completed. And we will make America safer by helping to transform Iraq from an exporter of violence and terror into a center of progress and peace.”
“During the last few decades, the terrorists grew to believe that if they hit America hard — as in Lebanon and Somalia — America would retreat and back down.”
He said: “Five years ago, one of the terrorists said that an attack could make America run in less than 24 ours. They have learned the wrong lesson.”
He declared the United States would complete its work in Iraq.
“Leaving Iraq prematurely would only embolden the terrorists and increase the danger to America. We are determined to stay, to fight and to win.”
“The terrorists and the Baathists loyal to the old regime will fail because America and our allies have a strategy, and our strategy is working.”
“First, we are taking this fight to the enemy, mounting raids, seizing weapons and funds and bringing killers to justice ... Second, we are training an ever-increasing number of Iraqis to defend their nation. Today, more than 90,000 Iraqis are serving as police officers, border guards and civil defence personnel ... Third, we are implementing a specific plan to transfer sovereignty and authority to the Iraqi people. The Governing Council ... has appointed ministers who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Iraqi government (and it) has also selected a committee (to) draft a new constitution for their country. When a constitution has been ratified by the Iraqi people, Iraq will enjoy free and fair elections.
“All these efforts are closely linked,” he stated.
As security improves, President Bush said “life will increasingly return to normal in Iraq ... And as the political process moves forward .... more and more Iraqis ... will help to secure a better life for themselves and their children.”
Referring to the recent terrorist strikes in Iraq, Mr Bush said: “Their targets included police stations in Baghdad and Fallujah, the headquarters of the International Red Cross, and living quarters for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. The majority of their victims were Iraqis ... and citizens of other nations engaged in purely humanitarian missions.”
“Some of the killers behind these attacks are loyalists of the Saddam regime who seek to regain power and who resent Iraq’s new freedoms. Others are foreigners who have travelled to Iraq to spread fear and chaos, and prevent the emergence of a successful democracy in the heart of the Middle East.”
“They may have different long-term goals, but they share a near-term strategy: to intimidate Iraqis from building a free government and to cause America and our allies to flee our responsibilities. They know that a free Iraq will be free of them, and free of the fear in which the ideologies of terror thrive.”—APP
