Posted on 12/12/2005 6:09:11 AM PST by Coop
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is using a visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, birthplace of the U.S. Constitution, as a reminder before the Iraqi elections that the path to American democracy was not always easy either.
Pennsylvania also is the home state of a leading Iraq war critic, Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who planned to speak on Bush's heels and repeat his call to bring the troops home from a fight he says has become too violent and out of control...
Iraqis are preparing to vote under tight security to elect a 275-member parliament that will run the country for the next four years. The election will be the first under the new constitution ratified in an October 15 referendum and will complete the steps toward democratization following the ouster of Saddam Hussein's government.
Monday's Iraq speech is Bush's third, part of a campaign to win support for the mission, with most Americans saying in polls that they disapprove of his handling of the war. The speech is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. ET.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
"What we are doing is bigger than the bomb[s]." Now that's powerful!"
Worth repeating!
The 2nd is forming an inclusive government with the participation of all Iraqis. Two-thirds of the new parliment must agree on the top leadership postsIt will require compromise on many key issues.
AMEN!
Yes it is and it's taking hold, even with the Sunnis....
http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2005/12/they-finally-are-beginning-to-get-it.html
The third challenge is establishing the rule of law. These will require overcoming ethic challenges and the temptation to take the law into their own hands.
Oops, meant #132
The man who once struck fear in the hearts of Iraqis is on trial in Baghdad. The rule of the tyrant is replaced with the rule of law.
Just walked in the door and listening...
Their newest tactic is to lobby for deadlines that will insure failure.
As Iraqis develop the habits of liberty they will gain confidence in the future. The fourth challenge is to maintain democracy in a tough neighborhood.
The American people will stand with the Iraqi people against the threats from its neighbors (Iran and Syria)
Respectful silence from the audience, but I would like to HEAR more response from them.
Interesting. And yet the same God gave the peoples of the Old Testament a king to rule over them. Or was Kind David elected in some sort of democratic principle I've never heard of? Did the Israeli people elect Moses or Aaron as well? So I guess God didn't put the democratic spirit into Adam and Eve. Or at least the desire to 'be free' in the sense as you put it.
It is apples and oranges to compare the regime change in Iraq (at least the third change to that nation by Western powers in this century alone, but this time it will be different we promise) to the founding of this nation of states and is disingenous at best. But as I said the masses won't know and even fewer will care
As more Arab states recognize the new Iraq is here to stay they will give the Iraqi nation more support.
Talking about Iraq's neighbors in the ME
He's asking those who have pledged financial support to make good on their pledges.
Friends of mine from the left have said to me more than once that some people aren't ready for or capable of democracy. I am always stunned that those who portray themselves as tolerant and inclusive could say these things...it says much about them. It's no wonder they are fans of every social engineering program that comes alonge here...they are trying to overcome their own dark hearts.
Build Iraq to fight terror. Build a souce which will fight terror in the ME.
They require our support.
Iraqi people will have the only constitutional democracy in the middle east world.
I agree with you, TomGuy. The more people who heard this excellent speech the better. But some freepers would prefer to condemn someone for making such a simple suggestion.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.