President Bush pledges commitment to nation

On April 13, 2004, for the third time in his term as president, George W. Bush appeared on primetime television to address the nation. The President’s appearance came at a pivotal time, as coalition forces in Iraq have been encountering serious resistance.
First, Bush eased fears of a possible uprising in Iraq or worse: a full-blown civil war.
“The violence we have seen is a power grab by these extreme and ruthless elements,” said Bush. “It’s not a civil war. It’s not a popular uprising. Most of Iraq is relatively stable. Most Iraqis by far reject violence and oppose dictatorship.”
President Bush also assured the public of our continued commitment to helping Iraq’s governmental transition from a dictatorship to a democracy. To prevent further violence and terror, he promised that with America’s help, Iraq will be a free country.
Furthermore, Bush reminded soldiers serving in Iraq that Americans are grateful for their services. He assured family members of those who have died in Iraq that “we will finish the work of the fallen.”
Bush reminded the media of the June 30 deadline for the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty, comparing our work in Iraq to the liberation of countries such as Japan and Germany, to serve as reminders that we are not imperialists.
“The transition to sovereignty also requires an atmosphere of security, and our coalition is working to provide that security,” Bush said.
Recently, President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair accepted the U.N. proposal to create an interim Iraqi government, hoping to gather more support for coalition forces through the U.N. from other nations. To ensure that sovereignty is indeed restored in Iraq, coalition forces will remain after the June 30 deadline.
“June 30 is the only specific given; so, Bush has a lot riding on the political turnover for the political sovereignty of Iraq. If it happens, it makes Bush’s policy look successful. If it does not happen, it puts his re-election chances in serious trouble,” said Dr. Chris Grant, assistant professor of political science at Georgia College & State University.
To demonstrate the move towards Iraqi sovereignty, military actions have ceased in Fallujah to allow the Iraqi Governing Council time to reestablish central authority in the city, in order to prevent further offensive action from coalition forces. The Iraqi Governing Council is also working to force Al-Sadr to face the charges against him and disband his illegal militia.
The President spoke with hope for the people of Iraq. Unprecedented events are taking place, such as the drafting of a permanent constitution with a bill of rights.
“Iraqis will then elect a permanent government by December 15, 2005 – an event that will mark the completion of Iraq’s transition from dictatorship to freedom,” added Bush.
The President reminded Americans why a free Iraq is important.
“A free Iraq is vital because 25 million Iraqis have as much right to live in freedom as we do. A free Iraq will stand as an example to reformers across the Middle East. A free Iraq will show that America is on the side of Muslims who wish to live in peace, as we’ve already shown in Kuwait and Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan. A free Iraq will confirm to a watching world that America’s word, once given, can be relied upon, even in the toughest times. Above all, the defeat of violence and terror in Iraq is vital to the defeat of violence and terror elsewhere and vital, therefore, to the safety of the American people.”
“President Bush clarified several aspects of the operations in Iraq that have been successful,” said Joshelin Kantor, a GC&SU theatre major. “We hear more facts of the negative on-goings, such as the fatalities, rather than the good that has been accomplished, and I think it was beneficial to hear the positive results of this controversial issue.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 23 2004. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry