Bush Reaffirms War on Terror as Iraqis Prepare to Vote on Constitution
Speaking to members of the Idaho National Guard and their families one day before the Iraqi Parliament’s vote on the final draft of their constitution, President Bush pledged to complete the fight against terror and defeat those who threaten freedom both at home and abroad.
"So long as I'm the president we will stay, we will fight and we will win the war on terrorism," Bush declared Wednesday in Nampa, Idaho.
"We'll complete our work in Afghanistan and Iraq," Bush said. "An immediate withdrawal of our troops in Iraq, or the broader Middle East, as some have called for, would only embolden the terrorists and create a staging ground to launch more attacks against America and free nations."
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Bush’s statements were made one day before the scheduled vote by the Iraqi Parliament on the final draft of the nation’s Constitution. Iraqi negotiators met the extended deadline by completing the draft of the Constitution minutes before midnight on Monday, but the National Assembly postponed a vote on the document until today in hopes of winning a wider support.
Much debate has surrounded the role of Islam in the constitution, and the possible setbacks it may have in securing freedom for religious minorities and females.
According to a USA Today report, the constitution states that “Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation: No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.”
The constitution also guarantees “the Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people, and the full religious rights for all individuals, and the freedom of creed and religious practices” as well as the “freedom of worship and the protection of its places.”
Religious freedom advocates have warned that the supremacy of Islamic law may undermine the subsequent clauses on religious and minority rights. However, they noted that since the constitution also states that “no law can be passed that contradicts the principles of democracy” and “no law can be passed that contradicts the rights and basic freedoms outlined in this constitution,” the development of freedom in Iraq will depend on which rights are specified in the final Constitution.
“It is not now clear how the provision on human rights and democracy will relate to those making Islam the basis of law,” wrote Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council. “While we wait for the Iraqi Parliament to vote tomorrow on the final draft of their Constitution, we hope that these questions are answered.”
Meanwhile, during his speech, Bush took note of the “long process” the Iraqis are undertaking as they struggle to adopt a constitution.
“They're arguing about the proper place of religion in the life of their nation. And like our founders, they will come up with a system that respects the traditions of their country and guarantees the rights of all their citizens,” Bush said.
And echoing the concerns of religious and humanitarian rights groups, Bush said Iraqis “understand that in order to have a free democracy, you must have minority rights. The will of the majority, coupled with minority rights and human dignity and rights for women is important for a free society.”
However, Bush emphasized, what’s important is that unlike the past when the nation was under Saddam Hussein’s rule, Iraqis are able to resolve these differences through debate and discussion.
“We admire their thoughtful deliberations, and we salute the determination of the Iraqi leaders to lay the foundation of a lasting democracy amid the ruins of a brutal dictatorship,” Bush said.
Ultimately, Bush reminded the audience that in the battle against terror, “every nation – every free nation – has a stake in the success of the Iraqi people.
“If the terrorists were to win in Iraq, the free world would be more vulnerable to attacks on innocent civilians. And that is why, for the sake of our children and our grandchildren, the terrorists will be defeated.”
