The Transfer of Sovereignty

The Transfer of Sovereignty
By Tom Cole
June 25, 2004

September 11, 2001, changed our world. It subjected an innocent nation to the ruthless actions of terrorists. We know now, more than ever, the importance of implementing prevention strategies to make sure terrorists do not have the opportunity to attack us again so easily. Prevention at home requires aggressive action abroad. Terrorism has no boundaries, and neither should our efforts to prevent it.

Thanks to brave and selfless sacrifice by American troops and security personnel and our Coalition allies, we have succeeded in liberating Afghanistan and Iraq from the abuse of two repressive regimes. As democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq takes root, a message will be sent forth that the spread of freedom can be the future of every nation, and that freedom improves the peace and security of the United States. For decades, Afghanistan and Iraq have harbored terrorists and cultivated an atmosphere of hate and political extremism. Now, we have a very important opportunity to establish democracies in both countries that will oppose those who wish to use terror against free countries around the world.

On June 30, the Iraqi people will assume full sovereignty and will move forward on the path to a representative government that protects the rights and serves the needs of its people. Elections are scheduled in the fall for Afghanistan and January of 2005 in Iraq. The United States' role in both countries will be fundamentally altered. The United States will no longer be an occupying power. The people of Afghanistan and Iraq will take over the future of their countries.

Eighteen months ago Afghans and Iraqis had no voice in their governments or their nations' future. Today, millions of Afghans and Iraqis are shaping their own destinies by participating in the political process. A recent public opinion poll showed that the majority of Iraqis embrace the concepts of democracy and self-government. They are proudly involved in governing their own affairs. According to USAID, the Coalition has established 16 governing councils, 90 district councils, 194 city or sub-district councils, and 445 neighborhood councils, allowing more than 19 million Iraqis to engage in local policy discussions. The coalition has transferred most of Iraq's 26 ministries to Iraqi control and will transfer all of them by June 30th. The remaining 11 will be under complete Iraqi control before the June 30th transfer. This is a great accomplishment. In Germany, after WWII, it took six months to establish local government. In Iraq it only took two months. In Germany, it took 10 years to transfer full sovereignty, In Iraq we will transfer sovereignty in 14 months. The
same developments and trends are evident in Afghanistan.

We are now seeing brave and capable leaders step to the fore in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I have been particularly impressed by Afghan president Hamid Karzai, the new Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar, whom I have met. These men have repeatedly thanked America, Britain and our allies for Afghanistan and Iraq's liberation and our sacrifices of blood and treasure on behalf of their people. They know our success is vital to the ultimate realization of the dream of a free Middle East. They are actively confronting and denouncing the terrorists who seek to destroy their countries and the United States. They are working hard to lead their countries as the people of Afghanistan and Iraq take control of their own destiny.

Although so much has been accomplished, many challenges remain. The recent violence - the attacks on Iraq's critical infrastructure for example-underscore that freedom in this region is opposed by violent men who seek the failure not only of the interim governments, but of all progress toward liberty. There will be more violence as the enemies of freedom become more desperate. The new multi-national force led by American forces will remain in Afghanistan and Iraq to help the people of both countries defeat the former regime members and terrorists who oppose democracy. The killers know that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. The rise of free and self-governing Afghanistan and Iraq will deny terrorists a base of operation.

President Bush said, "The failure of democracy in Iraq would throw its people back into misery and turn that country over to the terrorists who wish to destroy us. Yet democracy will succeed in Iraq, because our will is firm, our word is good, and the Iraqi people will not surrender their freedom."

I know that the President feels just as strongly about democracy in Afghanistan. We must not tire in our efforts to help both of these proud nations begin to taste the fruits of freedom. When democracy is fully achieved, Afghanistan and Iraq will no longer export terrorism, and the world will be a safer place because of it.