[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 44 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[Pages 1624-1625]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

October 29, 2004

    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 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

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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.