Bush meets Iraqi voters on efforts toward democracy
Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/30/2005

President Bush said the more than 8 million Iraqis who participated in the January 30 Iraqi elections sent "a powerful signal" that they "intend to claim their liberty and build a future of freedom for their country."

Speaking to a group of Iraqi expatriates who voted in the election, Iraqi law students visiting the United States and members of Iraq's religious communities, Bush thanked Iraqis for their strong belief in democracy and freedom and expressed his appreciation to the voters, electoral workers and security forces who made the election a success.

"By electing 275 men and women to the transitional national assembly, the Iraqi people took another bold step toward self-government," the president said.

The United States looks forward to working with the government that will be chosen and confirmed by the transitional assembly, according to Bush.Ê "We're confident that this new government will be inclusive, will respect human rights, and will uphold fundamental freedoms for all Iraqis," he said.

The president called the high voter turnout of Iraqi women and the election of over 80 women to the new assembly, along with the beginnings of a national dialogue between Sunnis, Shi'ites, and Kurds, "encouraging signs."

Bush said Iraq's elected leaders had determined that their government would be representative of the country's diversity, containing parties with differing visions for Iraq's future.Ê He added, "[I]n a democratic Iraq, these differences will be resolved through debate and persuasion, instead of force and intimidation."

The president said Iraqis have shown that the spirit of compromise has survived after more than three decades of dictatorship.Ê Noting recent Iraqi-led operations in Baghdad, Samara, and Mosul, Bush pointed out that over 145,000 Iraqis have been trained and are taking greater responsibility in the fight against insurgents and terrorists.

In comments following the president's remarks, two Iraqi expatriates discussed their views regarding the political process in Iraq.

Dr. Ali A. Al-Attar said the group had relayed the aspirations and concerns of the Iraqi people to the president and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at a meeting before the president's remarks.Ê He said group spoke of the slow formation of a government, the rise of governmental corruption and the lack of coordination between ministries.

Al-Attar said that Iraqis "don't want any more favoritism, we don't want anymore discrimination and one-sided ness. This is all history.Ê We are writing a new chapter in the history of the Middle East."

Wadie Habboush, an expatriate lawyer, was also present at the meeting. "Things have changed," he said.Ê "It will take time we believe, but É we're definitely sure that we will come to a point where we will see a democratic, free Iraq É where the Iraqi people are self-empowered to move ahead and take charge completely on their own."

Habboush said that for the first time in a long time, all Iraqi factions have come together and have been communicating in a way that is very effective and designed to secure the interests of all parties.Ê Al-Attar agreed, saying discussions have been very civil, and have been focused on creating a "united, federal, free Iraq" that will be a model for the Middle East.

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