Bush rallies the troops
2005-10-13 21:39
Washington - President George W Bush sought to rally US troops in Iraq ahead of Saturday's vote on new constitution, saying the "enemy understands that a free Iraq would be a blow to their vision."
"We put in motion something that can't be stopped, and that is the march of freedom," Bush said on Thursday in a video conference with soldiers based in Tikrit.
Bush spoke two days before Iraqis vote on a new constitution.
A compromise endorsed on Wednesday by the Iraqi parliament made key concessions to minority Sunni Arabs, increasing the chances that the document will be approved.
Passage of the constitution would open the way to national elections in December.
"We're never gong to back down, we're never going to give in, we'll never accept anything less than total victory," Bush said.
The president engaged in a question and answer sessions with ten soldiers, who he saw on a large video screen set up in a room of the Eisenhower executive office building, next to the White House.
"Do the Iraqis want to fight, and are they capable of fighting?" he asked. He was told they were.
And while polls show declining support for the war, Bush told the soldiers: "You've got tremendous support" among Americans.
"We need to stay on the offence, and we need to stay on the offence with well-trained Iraqi forces," Bush said.
- AP