Transcript of President Bush and Prime Minister Allawi Press Conference

— -- BUSH: Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to stand with the prime minister of a free andsovereign Iraq. Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister.

I applaud your leadership and your courage. I'm honored to welcome a friend to the White House.

ALLAWI: Thank you.

BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, you've accomplished a great deal in less than the three months since the transition to a free Iraq that isgoverned by Iraqis. These have been months of steady progress,despite persistent violence in some parts of your country.

Iraqis and their leaders are engaged in a great and historicenterprise: to establish a new democracy at the heart of a vitalregion.

As friends of liberty, the new leaders of Iraq are friends ofAmerica and all civilized nations.

As enemies of tyranny and terror, the people of Iraq and theAmerican troops and civilians supporting their dreams of freedom havebeen the target of acts of violence. The enemies of freedom are usingsuicide bombing, beheadings and other horrific acts to try to blockprogress.

We're sickened by the atrocities. But we'll never beintimidated. And freedom is winning.

Mr. Prime Minister, America will stand with you until freedom andjustice have prevailed. America's security and Iraq's future dependon it.

The Iraqi people are showing great courage and greatdetermination. As terrorists have attacked Iraqi security forces,still more brave Iraqis have come forward to volunteer to serve theircountry.

BUSH: As killers have attempted to assassinate governmentsofficials, Iraq's leaders have refused to be intimidated and the vastmajority of Iraqis remain committed to democracy.

The path to our safety and to Iraq's future as a democraticnation lies in the resolute defense of freedom.

If we stop fighting the terrorists in Iraq, they would be free toplot and plan attacks elsewhere, in America and other free nations.To retreat now would betray our mission, our word and our friends.

Mr. Prime Minister, America will keep its commitments.

The path ahead is difficult, because a free Iraq has deadlyenemies. Remnants of the old regime and terrorist groups want toprevent Iraq's elections and demoralize Iraq's allies.

Because of that, Prime Minister Allawi and I believe terroristviolence may well escalate as the January elections draw near. Theterrorists know that events in Iraq are reaching a decisive moment.If elections go forward, democracy in Iraq will put down permanentroots and terrorists will suffer a dramatic defeat.

And because Iraq and America and our coalition are standing firm,the Iraqi people and not the terrorists will determine Iraq's future.

There's much at stake.

Mr. Prime Minister, you recently said, "The war in Iraq now isnot only an Iraqi war, it is a war for the civilized world to fightterrorists and terrorism. And there is no route but the route ofwinning."

Prime Minister Tony Blair recently called the struggle in Iraqthe crucible in which the future of global terrorism will bedetermined.

BUSH: I share the view of these strong leaders that Iraq is acentral front in the war on terror and our only option is victory.

We're making steady progress in implementing our five-step plantoward the goal we all want: completing the mission so that Iraq isstable and self-governing and American troops can come home with thehonor they have earned.

The first step was achieved on June 28th, not only on time, butahead of schedule, when the coalition transferred full sovereignty toa government of Iraqi citizens.

The second step is to help Iraq's new government establishstability and security. Iraq must be able to defend itself and Iraqisecurity forces are taking increasing responsibility for theircountry's security.

Nearly 100,000 fully trained and equipped Iraqi soldiers, policeofficers and other security personnel are working today and that totalwill rise to 125,000 by the end of this year. The Iraqi government ison track to build a force of over 200,000 security personnel by theend of next year.

With the help of the American military, the training of the Iraqiarmy is almost halfway complete. And in Najaf and other importantareas, Iraqi military forces have performed with skill and success.

In Najaf, Iraqi and coalition forces effectively surrounded,isolated and engaged enemy militias. Prime Minister Allawi and hisgovernment reached out to the local population to persuade citizensthe path to a better future would be found in political participationand economic progress.

BUSH: The interim government then negotiated from a position ofstrength to end the standoff.

Serious problems remain in several cities. Prime Minister Allawibelieves this combination of decisive action and outreach to peacefulcitizens is the most effective way to defeat terrorists and insurgentsand secure the peace of Iraq. And America stands with him.

The third step in our plan is to continue improving Iraq'sinfrastructure. On television sets around the world we see acts ofviolence, yet in most of Iraq children are about to go back to school,parents are going back to work and new businesses are being opened.

Over 100 companies are now listed on the Iraqi stock exchange,and an average of five new companies are joining each week.Electricity has been restored above prewar levels. Telephone servicehas increased dramatically. More than 2,000 schools have beenrenovated and millions of new textbooks have been distributed.

There's much more work to be done. We've already spent more than$1 billion on urgent reconstruction projects in areas threatened bythe insurgency. In the next several months over $9 billion will bespent on contracts that will help Iraqis rebuild schools, refurbishhospitals and health clinics, repair bridges, upgrade the electricitygrid and modernize the communication system.

Prime Minister Allawi and I both agree that the pace ofreconstruction should be accelerated. We're working toward that goal.

The fourth step in our plan is to enlist additional internationalsupport for Iraq's transition to democracy. The multinational forceof some 30 nations continues to help secure a free Iraq. We honor theservice men and women of Great Britain, Bulgaria, Denmark, ElSalvador, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland,Slovakia, Spain, Thailand and Ukraine who've died, besides Iraqis andAmericans, for the cause of freedom and security of the world.

BUSH: Our coalition is grateful that the United Nations hasreestablished its mission in Baghdad. We're grateful to the G-8countries and the European Union for pledging support to the new Iraqigovernment. We're grateful to the NATO alliance for helping to trainIraqi forces. We're grateful to many of Iraq's creditors which haveagreed to have further reduction of Iraq's debt.

Because all nations have an interest in the success of a freeIraq, I urge all nations to join in this vital cause.

The fifth and most important step in our plan is to help Iraqconduct free, national elections no later than next January. An Iraqielectoral commission is now up and running and has already hiredpersonnel and is making key decisions about election procedures.

Just this week the commission began a public education campaignto inform Iraqis about the process and encourage them to becomevoters. The United Nations electoral advisers are on the ground inIraq, though more are needed. Prime Minister Allawi and I have urgedthe U.N. to send sufficient personnel to help ensure the success ofIraqi elections.

At every stage in this process of establishing self-government,the Iraqi people and leaders have met the schedules they set and haveovercome their challenges with confidence. And under this good man'sleadership they will continue to do so.

The war for Iraq's freedom is a fight against some of the mostruthless and brutal men on Earth. In such a struggle there will begood days and there will be difficult days. But every day our resolvemust remain firm.

Prime Minister, today I want to leave you and the nation youserve with a clear message: You have not faltered in a time ofchallenge and neither will America.

Thank you for your leadership. You honored us with your visit.

ALLAWI: Mr. President, thank you for those kind words.

ALLAWI: It is an honor to be here today in your nation'scapital.

It is a great honor to share this platform with you, a leader whoworked tirelessly for the liberation of my country.

These last few days have been difficult for us Iraqis, for youAmericans and for all our allies.

Let me start by saying that my thoughts and prayers are with thefamilies of those fighting today in Iraq, and in particularly with thefamilies of those who have lost loved ones at the hands of theterrorists or the insurgents.

Like this nation, which in the face of such brutality arestanding strong against terrorism, so we Iraqis will not be cowed bythe terrorists.

Your government and my government understand what is at staketoday in Iraq.

Today, we fact a concentrated campaign by terrorists and by theenemies of all the values which we hold dear; a campaign to shake ourresolve and to prevent Iraq and Iraqis from attaining the freedom anddemocracy which we have dreamed of for more than the last 30 years.

These terrorists understand all too well that success in Iraqwill be an enormous blow for terrorism worldwide, and an enormous stepforward for peace and stability in the Middle East and in the widerworld.

I thank you, Mr. President, for your determination to stand firmwith us in Iraq and for the unflinching message which you aredelivering to our enemies.

Mr. President, I stand here today as a prime minister of acountry emerging finally from dark ages of tyranny, aggression andcorruption.