President Bush Urges Iraqis To Defy Terrorists by Voting
Speaking at a White House press conference January 26, the president said he anticipates that the upcoming national assembly elections will be a "grand moment in Iraqi history" and that many will vote despite the campaign to intimidate them.
"The fact that they're voting in itself is successful," he said.
Bush acknowledged that the targeted assassination of Iraqi civilians "is having an effect on Iraqi families," but said he was encouraged that the vast majority of the Iraqi people want to vote and participate in democracy.
"I urge all people to vote. I urge people to defy these terrorists. These terrorists do not have the best interests of the Iraqi people in mind. They have no positive agenda. They have no clear view of a better future. They're afraid of a free society," the president said.
Bush said the United States would maintain the necessary number of troops in the country to complete its mission of training and enabling Iraqis to defend themselves from terrorists both inside and outside the country.
"Training means not just signing people up. Training means equipping and preparing them for tough fights, as well as developing a chain of command," he said.
The president said that "some really fine [Iraqi] units" have been established, and "we want to make sure there are more units that are capable of fighting."
Bush also said the January 26 crash of a U.S. Marine transport helicopter in western Iraq that killed more than 30 soldiers was "very discouraging to the American people."? However, he said the U.S. objective in Iraq is vital and "in the long term, our children and grandchildren will benefit from a free Iraq."
Reaffirming his January 20 inaugural address in which he called for the spread of the ideals of freedom throughout the world, Bush said, "I firmly planted the flag of liberty, for all to see that the United States of America hears their concerns and believes in their aspirations."
"I believe this country is best when it heads toward an ideal world," he said, and cited the Afghan, Palestinian and Ukrainian elections as examples of recent successes in the advance of freedom.?
Bush noted that the advance of freedom is "a work in progress" and not to expect "instant democracy," but said he would continue to raise issues of freedom with world leaders, including China, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
"We expect nations to adopt the values inherent in a democracy ... human rights and human dignity, that every person matters and every person ought to have a voice," he said.
Bush also reaffirmed his support for U.S. immigration reform, saying that although he opposes an amnesty for illegal immigrants, reform would fight human trafficking and make it easier to protect America's borders.
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