President Bush said on Tuesday that despite mounting attacks against American forces in Iraq, U.S. troops are still needed there to keep the nation from falling back into the hands of Saddam Hussein's loyalists.
Violence following the end of major combat operations was expected because loyalists of the toppled regime will stop at nothing to regain their grip on Iraq, Bush said.
"They have attacked coalition forces and they're trying to intimidate Iraqi citizens," Bush said. "These groups believe they have found an opportunity to harm America, to shake our resolve in the war on terror, and to cause us to leave Iraq before freedom is fully established."
"They are wrong and they will not succeed."
"But there will be no return to tyranny in Iraq," Bush said. "And those who threaten the order and stability of that country will face ruin just as surely as the regime they once served." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
