Political Quotes

“Mr. President last week, Kurdish security forces captured 15 militants in Kirkuk. Among them is a man purported to be second in command of Ansar al-Islam, an Iraq-based terrorist group linked with Al Qaeda. Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces swept through a downtown Baghdad neighborhood and arrested over 500 suspected criminals. The operation, which was conducted without the assistance of U.S. soldiers, was the largest operation of the interior ministry since the fall of Saddam Hussein. The developments in Kirkuk and Baghdad are positive signs of Iraq's progress. The interim government is taking on the tough responsibility of defending its citizens and confronting terrorists. We know that it will be a long and difficult process. The governor of the Nineveh province was gunned down last week by terrorists. Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claims credit for the vicious murder. And on Tuesday this week, the interim governor of Basra was assassinated as he was heading to work. The ongoing violence is frustrating and painful. Still, the Iraqi people remain optimistic. As my colleagues, Senators Lieberman and Kyl, pointed out in their excellent editorial in the Washington Post this week, a BBC/Oxford Research International poll finds released this month finds that a majority of Iraqis believe their lives today are quite good or very good, and a majority believes that their lives will be better next year. Meanwhile, Saddam will soon face his crimes.”