[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 47 (Monday, November 22, 2004)]
[Pages 2827-2828]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

November 13, 2004

    Good morning. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Allawi of Iraq 
authorized military operations to rid the city of Fallujah of Saddam 
holdouts and foreign terrorists. American marines and soldiers, 
alongside Iraqi security forces, are on the offensive against the 
killers who have been using Fallujah as a base of operations for 
terrorist attacks and who have held the local population in the grip of 
fear.
    Fighting together, our forces have made significant progress in the 
last several days. They are taking back the city, clearing mosques of 
weapons and explosives stockpiled by insurgents, and restoring order for 
law-abiding citizens.
    In the course of this operation, Iraqi troops have discovered new 
evidence of the enemy's brutality. An Iraqi general has described 
hostage slaughter houses, where terrorists have killed innocent victims 
and proudly recorded their barbaric crimes. The terrorists have shown 
once again the stakes of this struggle. They seek to spread fear and 
violence throughout Iraq, throughout the broader Middle East, and 
throughout the world, and they will fail. The terrorists will be 
defeated. Iraq will be free, and the world will be more secure. Our 
commitment to the success of democracy in Iraq is unshakable, and we 
will prevail.
    Ultimately, Iraq must be able to defend itself, and Iraqi security 
forces are taking increasing responsibility for their country's 
security. As we see in Fallujah and as we saw in Najaf and elsewhere, 
Iraqi security forces are standing and fighting and risking their lives 
for the future of their nation. As terrorists have targeted these 
forces, still more brave Iraqis have come forward as volunteers. Today, 
nearly 115,000 trained and equipped Iraqi soldiers, police officers, and 
other security personnel are serving their country. The Iraqi Government 
is on track to meet its goal of fielding more than 200,000 security 
personnel by the end of next year.
    In January, the Iraqi people will elect a transitional National 
Assembly, which will draft a new constitution to prepare the way for the 
election of a permanent Iraqi Government. The Iraqi people, like the 
people of Afghanistan before them, are embracing a democratic future 
even in the face of threats and intimidation. Throughout the country, 
Iraqi men and women are registering to vote; political parties are 
forming; candidates for office are stepping forward.
    International support for the Iraqi election is essential, and that 
support continues to grow. Military forces from some 30 nations are 
working alongside Iraqi forces, helping to establish stability and 
security. A U.N. team is providing critical technical support to Iraq's 
independent electoral commission. Other diplomatic personnel are helping 
the Iraqi people prepare for those elections to be held on schedule in 
January.
    As those elections draw near, the desperation of the killers will 
grow, and the violence could escalate. The success of democracy in Iraq 
would be a crushing blow to the forces of terror, and the terrorists 
know it. The defeat of terror in Iraq will set that nation on a course 
to lasting freedom and will give hope to millions, and the Iraqi people 
know it. And a free, democratic Iraq will inspire reformers throughout 
the Middle East and make America more secure.
    The United States and our allies have shown our determination to 
help Iraqis achieve their liberty. We will continue to stand by our 
friends, and we will finish the job.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 12:50 p.m. on November 12 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 
13. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on November

[[Page 2828]]

12 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his remarks, 
the President referred to Prime Minister Ayad Allawi of the Iraqi 
Interim Government; and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.