Bush Urges Iraqis to Defy Terror
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
(SNN) Today, President Bush called on Iraqis to vote in this weekend’s elections. “We anticipate a lot of Iraqis will vote,” Bush said. “Clearly, there are some who are intimidated. I urge people to vote. I urge people to vote. I urge people to defy these terrorists. They have no clear view of a better future.”
They have no clear view of a better future.
Bush rejected claims that the war had become to costly and defended his newest request for another $80 billion for military funding in both Iraq and Afghanistan, which will push this year’s budget deficit to $427 billion, the largest budget deficit in history. "The notion somehow we're not making progress I just don't subscribe to. I mean, we're having elections," he said. More than half of Americans now think it unlikely that a stable democracy will emerge in Iraq, according to an AP poll.
Bush predicted that millions of Iraqis would “show bravery” by voting in Sunday’s election.
Bush also cautioned about ending the mission in Iraq too early. “I think the Iraqi people are wondering whether or not this nation has the will necessary to stand with them as a democracy evolves. The enemy would like nothing more than the United States to precipitously pull out and withdraw before the Iraqis are prepared to defend themselves.” Bush then suggested that we could pull troops from Iraq in less than a year, as many of Iraqis have received military training. He then went on to acknowledge that the training they had received was probably inadequate. "That doesn't necessarily mean they're ready,” Bush said. “There's a difference between quantity and quality."
Despite the continuing violence, Bush predicted that millions of Iraqis would “show bravery” by voting in Sunday’s election. But there would be intimidation by insurgents who would target voters and polling stations. He conceded that most voters would be shot in the head, right in the fucking head. "The fact that they're voting in itself is successful," Bush said.
