Excerpts From Nouri Al-Maliki’s Speech In Front Of A Joint Session Of Congress Today

From the speech the Democrats didn’t want the American people to hear:

“Let me begin by thanking the American people, through you, on behalf of the Iraqi people, for supporting our people and ousting dictatorship. Iraq will not forget those who stood with her and who continues to stand with her in times of need.

Thank you for your continued resolve in helping us fight the terrorists plaguing Iraq, which is a struggle to defend our nation’s democracy and our people who aspire to liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. All of those are not Western values; they are universal values for humanity.”

“I know that some of you here question whether Iraq is part of the war on terror. Let me be very clear: This is a battle between true Islam, for which a person’s liberty and rights constitute essential cornerstones, and terrorism, which wraps itself in a fake Islamic cloak; in reality, waging a war on Islam and Muslims and values.”

“Thousands of lives were tragically lost on September 11th when these impostors of Islam reared their ugly head. Thousands more continue to die in Iraq today at the hands of the same terrorists who show complete disregard for human life. Your loss on that day was the loss of all mankind, and our loss today is lost for all free people.”

“The fate of our country and yours is tied. Should democracy be allowed to fail in Iraq and terror permitted to triumph, then the war on terror will never be won elsewhere.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, in a short space of time, Iraq has gone from a dictatorship to a transitional administration, and now to a fully fledged democratic government.

This has happened despite the best efforts of the terrorists who are bent on either destroying democracy or Iraq, but by the courage of our people who defied the terrorists every time they were called upon to make a choice, by risking their lives for the ballot box. They have stated over and over again, with their ink-stained fingers waving in pride, that they will always make the same choice.”

“The journey has been perilous, and the future is not guaranteed. Yet many around the world who underestimated the resolve of Iraq’s people and were sure that we would never reach this stage. Few believed in us. But you, the American people, did, and we are grateful for this.”

“What used to be a state-controlled media is now completely free and uncensored, something Iraq had never witnessed since its establishment as a modern state and something which remains alien to most of the region.

…In the past three years, our GDP per capita has more than doubled. And it is expected that our economy will continue to grow. Standards of living have been raised for most Iraqis as the markets witness an unprecedented level of prosperity. Many individuals are buying products and appliances which they would never have hoped to afford in the past.

…We have gone from mass graves and torture chambers and chemical weapons to a flourishing — to the rule of law and human rights.

…I am proud to say that a quarter of Iraq’s Council of Representatives is made up of women…”

“For the sake of success of the political process, I launched the National Reconciliation Initiative, which aims to draw in groups willing to accept the logic of dialogue and participation. This olive branch has received the backing of Iraq’s parliamentary blocs and support further afield from large segments of the population.

I remain determined to see this initiative succeed.

But let our enemies not mistake our outstretched hand for forgiveness as a sign of weakness. Whoever chooses violence against the people of Iraq, then the fate that awaits them will be the same that of the terrorist Zarqawi.”

The other impediment to Iraq’s stability are the armed militias. I have on many occasions stated my determination to disband all militias without exception…

… and re-establish a state monopoly on arms and to guarantee citizens security so that they do not need others to provide it.

I will not allow Iraq to become a launch pad for Al Qaida and other terrorist organizations.

I will not allow terror to rob Iraqis of their hopes and dreams. I will not allow terrorists to dictate to us our future.

“The coming few days are difficult and the challenges are considerable. Iraq and America both need each other to defeat the terror engulfing the free world.

In partnership, we will be triumphant because we will never be slaves to terror, for God has made us free.

…Trust that Iraq will be the graveyard for terrorism and terrorists for the good of all humanity.”

Share this!

Enjoy reading? Share it with your friends!