Wicker Notes Resolve of Bush, Iraqi Leader to Stay the Course

WICKER NOTES RESOLVE OF BUSH, IRAQI LEADER TO STAY THE COURSE
Major speeches last week by President Bush and interim Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi reinforced the strong commitment of both governments to stay firmly on course toward securing a free and democratic Iraq.

President Bush spoke to the United Nations General Assembly and urged the world community to become more involved in helping the emerging democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Later in the week before a joint meeting of Congress, Prime Minister Ayad Allawi thanked the U.S. for its leadership and said his people are determined to seize this opportunity to build a representative government and win the war on terrorism.

BUSH URGES U.N. PARTICIPATION
President Bush noted that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has begun training Iraqi forces and that United Nations officials are helping organize upcoming elections. He called on more countries to join this effort, saying the U.N. and its member nations would benefit from helping make Iraq "secure, democratic, federal, and free."

Mr. Bush expressed optimism about the future while acknowledging that terrorists are working to disrupt and undermine the march toward freedom. He predicted attacks would escalate as national elections approach. "These difficulties will not shake our conviction that the future of Afghanistan and Iraq is a future of liberty," he said.

IRAQIS ARE DETERMINED
In his address to the Congress, Prime Minister Allawi said no one should underestimate the determination of the Iraqi people to live in a free and open society after suffering under the regime of Saddam Hussein. He recounted that Saddam murdered and tortured millions of his countrymen, attacked his neighbors, and financed and exported terrorism throughout the region. "We are better off, you are better off, and the world is better off without Saddam Hussein," he said.

Mr. Allawi commented that there have been setbacks fueled by a small minority of people who despise liberty. Saddam loyalists, Islamic extremists, and foreign terrorists are fighting to prevent freedom from taking hold in Iraq. He said the insurgency is disruptive but small and will never resonate with the Iraqi people.

The Prime Minister was resolute in his confidence that free elections scheduled for January will be held on time. He echoed Mr. Bush's prediction that terrorists and their allies will try to derail the elections, but they would not prevail. After suffering through decades of torture and repression, the Iraqi people have a strong desire to reach this important milestone, he said.

Mr. Allawi reaffirmed his belief that democracy is winning in Iraq and that the international news media are not covering the tremendous progress being made to rebuild the country's infrastructure and provide basic services.

OPTIMISM FROM THE TROOPS
Comments about unbalanced media coverage were echoed by our troops in Iraq last week. Col. Bradly MacNealy commands fellow Mississippi National Guardsmen in the 185th Aviation unit stationed at Balad, Iraq. In an email, he expressed frustration that the media continue to ignore the positive and thrive on the negative. On a recent mission they learned from a news reporter that, "If it doesn't bleed, it doesn't read," meaning that the more dramatic reports of car bombs and fighting are dominating the headlines coming out of Iraq. He went on to say that U. S. and coalition forces are making a positive difference and "we will succeed."