    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [October 29, 2005]
    [Pages 1626-1628]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    October 29, 2005

        Good morning. This week marked another important milestone in
    carrying out our strategy in Iraq. On Tuesday, the Iraqi election
    commission formally certified the passage of the new Iraqi Constitution,
    after nearly 10 million Iraqis turned out to vote on it 2 weeks ago.
    This is a moment of tremendous significance for Iraq, the region, and
    the world. Three years ago, when Saddam Hussein ruled with an iron grip, the prospect of Iraqis voting
    on a democratic constitution would have been unthinkable. Now, the Iraqi
    people have shown that individual rights and rule by the people are
    universal principles and that these principles can become the basis for
    free and decent governments throughout the Middle East.
        The new Iraqi Constitution received support from Iraqis of all
    ethnic and religious

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    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 9 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.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:52 a.m. on October 28 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on October 29. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 28 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his
    address, the President referred to former President Saddam Hussein of
    Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.

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