Iraqi Election Won't Bring Instant Peace, Bush Says

[RonOnGuitar]

It must be kept in mind that establishing democracy takes time and patience. Such a democratic establishment took 6 years in post-war Germany and 10 years in post-war Japan.

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Iraqi Election Won't Bring Instant Peace, Bush Says

(Associated Press)



In Weekly Radio Address, President Says Terrorist Violence Will Continue



WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush cautions that Sunday's election in Iraq won't instantly solve the country's problems.



In his weekly radio address, he said "terrorist violence will not end with the election." But he added that "tomorrow's election will add to the momentum of democracy."



Bush warned that terrorists are bent on disrupting the vote. But he said they're doing so only to keep people living in fear because, as he put it, they "know that free elections will expose the emptiness of their vision for Iraq."



The president also said whatever the outcome, the U.S. will stand beside Iraq's next government. He said the country has a duty to help Iraq's next leaders.



Democrat Questions Strategy In Iraq



The senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee used his party's radio address to raise questions about the Bush administration's strategy in Iraq.



Among other things, Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri questioned the ability of Iraqi security units to quickly replace U.S. troops.



Skelton praised the courage of American forces and the Iraqi civilians they protect for their roles in the balloting. But he said there's still a "long, hard way to go" in helping Iraq create "a viable, representative government."



Polls indicate Americans are growing increasingly anxious about the war, in which more than 14-hundred U-S troops have been killed along with thousands of Iraqis.