Suitably Flip

President's Remarks on Iraqi Election

President Bush delivered a speech at the Wilson Center at the Ronald Reagan Building this morning on the topic of tomorrow's parliamentary election in Iraq and victory in the war on terror.

Here's the meatiest bit (IMHO):

Our tactics continue to change, but our goal in Iraq has not changed: a free and democratic Iraq. I strongly believe a democratic Iraq is a crucial part of our strategy to defeat the terrorists, because only democracy can bring freedom and reconciliation to Iraq, and peace to this troubled part of the world. Our efforts to advance freedom in Iraq are driven by our vital interests and our deepest beliefs. America was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and we believe that the people of the Middle East desire freedom as much as we do. History has shown that free nations are peaceful nations. And as Iraqi democracy takes hold, Iraqi citizens will have a stake in a common and peaceful future.

As we advance the cause of freedom in Iraq, our nation can proceed with confidence because we have done this kind of work before. After World War II, President Harry Truman believed that the way to help bring peace and prosperity to Asia was to plant the seeds of freedom and democracy in Japan. Like today, there were many skeptics and pessimists who said that the Japanese were not ready for democracy. Fortunately, President Harry Truman stuck to his guns. He believed, as I do, in freedom's power to transform an adversary into an ally. And because he stayed true to his convictions, today Japan is one of the world's freest and most prosperous nations, and one of America's closest allies in keeping the peace. The spread of freedom to Iraq and the Middle East requires the same confidence and persistence, and it will lead to the same results. (Applause.)

The people of Iraq are now seeing some of the tangible benefits of their new democracy. They see that as freedom advances, their lives are improving. Iraqis have approved a bold constitution that guarantees the rule of law and freedom of assembly, and property rights, and freedom of speech and the press, and women's rights, and the right to vote. They see their freedom increasingly being defended by their own soldiers and police instead of foreign forces. And they see that freedom is bringing opportunity and a better life.

In response, Mark Noonan at Blogs For Bush asks some excellent questions:

Can you start to see it, now? We are about to midwife the first democracy the Arab world has ever known - this is a gigantic advance in the cause of human liberty and is an absolutely vital element in our War on Terrorism.
...
You on the left can wallow in your fetid Bush-hating if you'd like, but perhaps it is time for you to rethink your views and, you know, get on your country's side in this War on Terrorism. President Bush leaves office on January 20th, 2009...but this War on Terror will likely go on for another ten years or so. What will you do once Bush is gone? Suddenly decide you want to fight terrorism? What happens if by the time Bush is gone you've sabotaged the effort and the enemy is riding high? Think about that.

Comments

President's Remarks on Iraqi Election

President Bush delivered a speech at the Wilson Center at the Ronald Reagan Building this morning on the topic of tomorrow's parliamentary election in Iraq and victory in the war on terror.

Here's the meatiest bit (IMHO):

Our tactics continue to change, but our goal in Iraq has not changed: a free and democratic Iraq. I strongly believe a democratic Iraq is a crucial part of our strategy to defeat the terrorists, because only democracy can bring freedom and reconciliation to Iraq, and peace to this troubled part of the world. Our efforts to advance freedom in Iraq are driven by our vital interests and our deepest beliefs. America was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and we believe that the people of the Middle East desire freedom as much as we do. History has shown that free nations are peaceful nations. And as Iraqi democracy takes hold, Iraqi citizens will have a stake in a common and peaceful future.

As we advance the cause of freedom in Iraq, our nation can proceed with confidence because we have done this kind of work before. After World War II, President Harry Truman believed that the way to help bring peace and prosperity to Asia was to plant the seeds of freedom and democracy in Japan. Like today, there were many skeptics and pessimists who said that the Japanese were not ready for democracy. Fortunately, President Harry Truman stuck to his guns. He believed, as I do, in freedom's power to transform an adversary into an ally. And because he stayed true to his convictions, today Japan is one of the world's freest and most prosperous nations, and one of America's closest allies in keeping the peace. The spread of freedom to Iraq and the Middle East requires the same confidence and persistence, and it will lead to the same results. (Applause.)

The people of Iraq are now seeing some of the tangible benefits of their new democracy. They see that as freedom advances, their lives are improving. Iraqis have approved a bold constitution that guarantees the rule of law and freedom of assembly, and property rights, and freedom of speech and the press, and women's rights, and the right to vote. They see their freedom increasingly being defended by their own soldiers and police instead of foreign forces. And they see that freedom is bringing opportunity and a better life.

In response, Mark Noonan at Blogs For Bush asks some excellent questions:

Can you start to see it, now? We are about to midwife the first democracy the Arab world has ever known - this is a gigantic advance in the cause of human liberty and is an absolutely vital element in our War on Terrorism.
...
You on the left can wallow in your fetid Bush-hating if you'd like, but perhaps it is time for you to rethink your views and, you know, get on your country's side in this War on Terrorism. President Bush leaves office on January 20th, 2009...but this War on Terror will likely go on for another ten years or so. What will you do once Bush is gone? Suddenly decide you want to fight terrorism? What happens if by the time Bush is gone you've sabotaged the effort and the enemy is riding high? Think about that.