08 March 2010

Obama: Iraqi Election “Important Milestone”

The fact that millions of Iraqis voted serves as a rebuke to the violence and threats of extremists, Secretary Clinton said.

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington — Millions of Iraqis braved threats of violence to exercise their right to vote March 7, and President Obama praised their courage and commitment to the democratic process, describing the vote as an “important milestone in Iraqi history.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House March 7, the president pledged continued U.S. support to help the Iraqis “take control of their future,” while working to responsibly end the war and the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.

“I congratulate the Iraqi people on their courage throughout this historic election. Today, in the face of violence from those who would only destroy, Iraqis took a step forward in the hard work of building up their country,” Obama said.

Press reports indicated that at least 35 people were killed by bomb attacks in Baghdad March 7, with additional attacks reported in Mosul, Falluja, Baquba and Samarra.

Obama said, “Al-Qaida in Iraq and other extremists tried to disrupt Iraq’s progress by murdering innocent Iraqis who were exercising their democratic rights,” but he added that the overall level of security and the prevention of attacks “speaks to the growing capability and professionalism of Iraqi Security Forces, which took the lead in providing protection at the polls.”

Along with Iraqis serving as poll station workers and observers at the nearly 50,000 voting booths and more than 8,000 polling stations across the country, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission organized and administered the vote, and the president said the election “makes it clear that the future of Iraq belongs to the people of Iraq.”

Obama said the formation of a new Iraqi government is likely to take months following the vote count, adjudication of any alleged election frauds, and the building of a governing coalition.

“In this process, the United States does not support particular candidates or coalitions. We support the right of the Iraqi people to choose their own leaders,” he said.

He also warned of “very difficult days ahead” with more violence, but said Iraq must be allowed to exercise its sovereignty and independence.

“No one should seek to influence, exploit or disrupt this period of transition. Now is the time for every neighbor and nation to respect Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the president said.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also congratulated the Iraqi people in a March 7 statement, praising their determination to reaffirm their commitment to democracy and a future without fear or intimidation.

“There is no better rebuke to the violent extremists who seek to derail Iraq's progress,” Clinton said.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, told ABC television March 8 that Iraq had seen a good campaign and a successful election. All of Iraq’s political parties participated in the process, he said, which was a contrast from the 2005 election, which the Sunni population largely boycotted.

The Iraqi public is “overwhelmingly supportive of this political process,” Hill said. He said he believes that, despite challenges and rivalries among the political parties, a government will be formed.

“There have been a lot of conversations among the coalitions already. And … it will be a protracted period where there will be a lot of political horse trading,” he said.

General Ray Odierno, who commands U.S. forces in Iraq, told the MSNBC network March 8 that American combat forces remain on schedule to leave the country by the end of August, and the additional 50,000 troops that are scheduled to stay until December 2011 will be there in support of Iraqi forces.

“We're focused on helping them in their institutional piece of their army, developing long-term programs, developing long-term modernization programs, continuing to help them with their logistics, continuing to help them with the supporting military equipment, such as air sovereignty, being able to protect their oil fields out in the Arabian Gulf,” Odierno said.

Moreover, U.S. support for the Iraqi people and their institutions “will not end in December 2011,” he said. “There'll have to be a continued commitment by the embassy and all our great civilians here, and the U.S. government, to continue to help Iraq move forward.”