Acknowledging that the United States mission in Iraq was "difficult" with "more tough fighting" expected in near future in the wake of bitter insurgency, President George W Bush said on Saturday that democracy was moving forward in the war-ravaged country.
" I am confident in the outcome. The Iraqi people are growing in optimism and hope. They understand that the violence is only a part of the reality in Iraq," Bush said in his weekly radio address.
"Each day, Iraqis are exercising new freedom that they were denied for decades. Schools, hospitals, roads and post offices are being built to serve the needs of all Iraqis.
Increasing numbers of Iraqis are overcoming their fears and working actively to defeat the insurgents. And every Iraqi who chooses the side of freedom has chosen the winning side."
Affirming the two-track US strategy for victory in Iraq, Bush said the military track was "to defeat the terrorists and continue helping Iraqis to take greater responsibility for defending their freedom."
"The images we see on television are a grim reminder that the enemies of freedom in Iraq are ruthless killers with no regard for human life," he said.
The terrorists "are trying to undermine the new (Iraqi) government and intimidate Iraqis from joining the growing Iraqi security forces. Yet democracy is moving forward and, more and more Iraqis are defying the terrorists by joining the democratic process," Bush said.