Terrors to do everything to thwart Iraqi polls

(L-R) Iraqi expatriates Samir and Muhammed show reporters a photo of Samir subduing Saddam Hussein as they prepare to leave an Iraqi polling place Friday in Nashville, Tennessee. As a translator assigned to US Special Forces in Iraq, Samir, a Shia Muslim, was directly involved in locating and arresting the ousted Iraqi president. Today he enjoys celebrity among Iraqis as "The man who found Saddam." Samir now lives in St. Louis, Missouri and traveled twice this week to Nashville: Once to register and once to vote. PHOTO: AFP

"The terrorists and those who benefitted from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein know that free elections will expose the emptiness of their vision for Iraq," Bush said in his weekly radio address. "That is why they will stop at nothing to prevent or disrupt this election.

"Yet in the face of this intimidation, the Iraqi people are standing firm," the president continued. "Tomorrow's elections will happen because of their courage and determination. All throughout Iraq, these friends of freedom understand the stakes."

Bush said that terrorist violence will not end with the election. But he insisted that terrorists will fail, because the Iraqi people reject their ideology of murder.

"This election is also important for America," said the president. "Our nation has always been more secure when freedom is on the march. As hope and freedom spread, the appeal of terror and hate will fade. And there is not a democratic nation in our world that threatens the security of the United States. The best way to ensure the success of democracy is through the advance of democracy.

"As democracy takes hold in Iraq, America's mission there will continue," Bush pointed out. "Our military forces, diplomats and civilian personnel will help the newly-elected government of Iraq establish security and train Iraqi military police and other forces."

He did not mention any possible US withdrawal date from Iraq.

"Over the past year, the world has seen successful elections in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Georgia, Ukraine, and the Palestinian territories," the president pointed out. "In countries across the broader Middle East, from Morocco to Bahrain, governments are enacting new reforms and increasing participation for their people."