PRESS RELEASES
IRAQIS EXPERIENCE 'NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM'
2/02/2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Just a few weeks ago, I stood on the snowy steps of the Capitol and listened to President George W. Bush's inaugural address.
One excerpt from the speech -- an excerpt that has since been analyzed by pundits and experts -- was a precursor to a historic event that the world witnessed this weekend: the Iraqi elections.
" For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and tyranny - prone to ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder - violence will gather, and multiply in destructive power, and cross the most defended borders, and raise a mortal threat. There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom," Bush said.
That force, which the President so eloquently described, arrived in Iraq this weekend and tore down the walls of hate, fear and tyranny built up by Saddam Hussein and the insurgents, and gave way to the first democratic election in Iraq in over 50 years.
But this freedom that the Iraqis are now experiencing did, however, come at a great price.
Nearly two years ago, American soldiers were called to duty and have performed beyond the grandest expectations.
Hussein, who stifled his own people with chemical weapons and torture, is now in prison.
Key members of Al-Qaeda are also in prison, other terrorists are on the run and the U.S. has sent a message to the world that the threat of terrorism will be met with justice.
That message has been delivered by our men and women serving in the Armed Services, and the fruit of their great labor has been the implementation of democratic elections in Afghanistan and Iraq.
I have read many media reports since the Iraqi election, and early reports show that between 55 to 60 percent of Iraqi voters cast ballots.
This turnout roughly shows that eight million out of 14 million exercised their right to vote.
Our military forces will still face numerous objectives and tasks in the upcoming months because this new birth of freedom for the Iraqis must be nurtured.
But our men and women, who have sacrificed so much to help spread democracy to other regions of the world, can rest assured that their work is not in vain.
Although it may be seven to 10 days before the winners of the Iraqi elections are declared, the world can celebrate in the fact that freedom and democracy have won another victory over tyranny and fear.
And once Iraq's new form of government is firmly rooted in the soils of democracy, I am hopeful its leaders will continue to echo the strength of freedom and liberty from their own capitol steps.
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