Wicker Praises President for Initiatives on Iraq

WICKER PRAISES PRESIDENT FOR INITIATIVES ON IRAQ
December 26, 2005

In a December 18 address, President Bush told the American people the U. S. is winning the war in Iraq. He pointed to recent parliamentary elections as proof that dramatic progress is being made in building democracy in the Middle East and outlined a clear strategy for victory.

I have been encouraged by the President's efforts in recent days to speak frankly about Iraq and share his plan for achieving success there. In this address, he acknowledged that mistakes have been made and that fighting the insurgency has been more difficult that expected. But he rejected the notion from some critics that the war is unwinnable. He said, "Not only can we win the war in Iraq - we are winning the war in Iraq." He was also forceful in making the point that there is no middle ground for the U. S. on this issue. The only two options are victory or defeat.

DRAMATIC ELECTIONS

He called the parliamentary elections "a landmark day in the history of liberty." More than 10 million Iraqis participated in the balloting, including many Sunni Iraqis who boycotted national elections in January. The international press wrote that voters seemed eager to cast ballots and that there was an atmosphere of celebration at the polling stations.

While the elections were an unqualified success, the President cautioned this would not bring immediate peace. Terrorists will continue to try and prevent democracy from taking hold in Iraq, he said. "Based on their own communications, they feel a tightening noose and fear the rise of a democratic Iraq."

THREE PRONGED-STRATEGY

Mr. Bush shared a three-pronged strategy for reaching the goal of an independent Iraq that will allow Iraqis to assume control of their country and enable U.S. service personnel to begin coming home. He said U. S. and coalition forces would remain on the offensive to fight the enemy and continue building up the capabilities of Iraqi security forces.

A second initiative in the plan is to help the Iraqi government establish institutions of democracy in which all of the country's ethnic groups are included and represented. I share the President's optimism that the results of the December 15 election indicate this process is well on its way.

The third component is a reconstruction plan to revive Iraq's economy and infrastructure. According to recent polls, seven in 10 Iraqis say their lives are going well, and nearly two-thirds expect things to improve in the year ahead.

SEN. LIEBERMAN CONCURS

One high-profile Democrat agrees with the President's assessment of the situation in Iraq. Connecticut Senator and former vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman said he thinks the U.S. has "turned the corner" on Iraq. He pointed to the elections and the President's speeches as key reasons for his optimism. He said the last two weeks may be seen as a "turning point in the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism."

Mr. Bush cautioned that pulling out of Iraq before the mission is completed would have disastrous consequences. He said, "To retreat before victory would be an act of recklessness and dishonor...and I will not allow it."

http://www.house.gov/wicker/Initiatives.htm