[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 42 (Monday, October 24, 2005)]
[Pages 1547-1549]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

October 15, 2004

    Good morning. This weekend is a momentous time in the history of the 
Middle East. After choosing their leaders in free elections in January, 
the Iraqi people have gone to the polls to vote on a democratic 
constitution. This constitution is the result of months of debate and 
compromise by representatives of Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious 
communities. These leaders came together to produce a document that 
protects fundamental freedoms and lays the foundation for

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a lasting democracy. Earlier this week, the Iraqi people embraced 
changes to the text that have led to its endorsement by some Sunni 
leaders as well as Kurdish and Shi'a leaders. Now the people of Iraq 
will have the final say.
    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. And by their courageous example, they're charting a new 
course for the entire Middle East.
    This weekend's election is a critical step forward in Iraq's march 
toward democracy, and with each step the Iraqi people take, Al Qaida'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 Qaida'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 Qaida 
views Iraq as ``the place for the greatest battle'' of our day.
    He says that establishing Al Qaida's dominion over Iraq is the first 
step towards their larger goal of imposing Islamic radicalism across the 
broader Middle East. Zawahiri writes, and I quote, ``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.'' End 
quote.
    This letter shows that Al Qaida 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, quote, ``many of 
your Muslim admirers amongst the common folk are wondering about your 
attacks on the Shi'a.'' End quote. Even Al Qaida 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 Qaida letter points to Vietnam as a 
model. Zawahiri says, quote, ``The aftermath of the collapse of American 
power in Vietnam and how they ran and left their agents is noteworthy.'' 
End quote. Al Qaida 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.Q02
    Thank you for listening.Q02

Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on October 14 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on October 15. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
October 14 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his 
address, the President referred to Ayman Al-Zawahiri, founder of the 
Egyptian Islamic Jihad and senior Al Qaida associate; and senior Al 
Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. The Office of the Press Secretary 
also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.

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