U.S. President George W. Bush today in his weekly radio address to the nation concentrated on the war in Iraq, reiterating the U.S. strategy there and proclaiming that "the terrorists will fail." "Despite the acts of violence by the enemies of freedom, Iraq's elected leaders are now finishing work on a democratic constitution," Bush said. "Later this year, that constitution will be out before the Iraqi people for their approval." Bush said the political progress in Iraq will undermine the insurgents' legitimacy, as will the training, equipping, and deploying of Iraq soldiers. When Iraq has a sovereign government and a capable security force which will allow the U.S. military to withdraw into smaller support roles and eventually leave for good, the insurgents will lose, the president said. Bush also told Americans that the war in Iraq is an essential step towards the eradication of terrorism in the Middle East. "Our mission in Iraq is tough because the enemy understands the stakes," Bush said. "The terrorists know that a free Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will be a crippling blow to their hateful ideology. And that is why our work in Iraq is a vital part of the war on terror we're waging around the world."
