US president George W Bush on Wednesday urged Iraqis to vote in the election on Sunday and told them not to be intimidated by terrorist threats on the 'grand moment' in the country's history.
Addressing his first White House press conference after assuming office for the second term, Bush said, "We anticipate a lot of Iraqis will vote. Clearly, there are some who are intimidated... I urge all people to vote."
Evading questions on when the 150,000 American troops would start to pull out of the war-torn country, he said, "We will complete the mission as quickly as possible.
"And that mission of a secure and stable Iraq will be achieved when the Iraqis fight the former regime elements and people like al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab Zarqawi."
The 'enemy' would like nothing more than the United States to withdraw before the Iraqis are prepared to defend themselves. Their objective is to stop the advance of democracy, he said. "Freedom scares them," Bush added.
"Over the next year, we will be advancing our plan to make sure the Iraqis are better prepared to defend themselves and to fight."
© 2025