Bush Estimates 30,000 Iraqis Killed

In Speech, Likens Building Democratic Institutions in Iraq to Founding of U.S.
By Daniela Deane
The Washington Post
Monday, December 12, 2005

President Bush today stood by his decision nearly three years ago to invade Iraq, despite the fact that some 30,000 Iraqis and more than 2,000 U.S. troops have been killed and he expects the violence to continue even after the country holds parliamentary elections this week.

In a speech in Philadelphia, Bush likened Iraq's attempts to build democratic institutions to the founding of an independent democracy in the United States, which he said was marked by tension, "disorder and upheaval."

"No nation in history has made the transition to a free society without facing challenges, setbacks and false starts," Bush said at Philadelphia's World Affairs Council, which is just a few blocks from historic Independence Hall, where the U.S. constitution was signed in 1787.

The president's speech was part of a recent round of speeches on the war in Iraq designed to bolster flagging public support for the military campaign.

The 45-minute speech focused on recent Iraqi efforts to create democratic institutions. Afterwards, Bush unexpectedly took questions from the audience. One questioner asked how many Iraqis had been killed since the war began.

"I would say 30,000 more or less have died as a result of the initial incursion and the ongoing violence against Iraqis," the president said. "We've lost about 2,140 of our own troops in Iraq."

Speaking just three days before Iraqis go the polls to vote for a new parliament on Thursday, Bush said a lot of difficult work remained to be done in Iraq. He predicted continued violence.

"A free Iraq is not going to be a quiet Iraq," Bush said. "It will be a nation that continues to face some level of violence. Still, he argued, that the "year 2005 will be recorded as a turning point in the history of Iraq, the history of the Middle East and the history of freedom."

Another questioner challenged the administration's linking of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington with the war in Iraq. Bush answered that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was a threat and was believed by many people to harbor weapons of mass destruction, the main reason the administration gave for invading Iraq.

"I made a tough decision," Bush said. "And knowing what I know today I'd make the decision again. Removing Saddam Hussein makes this world a better place and America a safer country."

During the speech, Bush singled out Iran and Syria as two countries that do not want democracy in Iraq to succeed. He said Syria was "permitting terrorists to cross into Iraq." He said the United States would "stand with the Iraqi people against the threats from their neighbors."

"We will accept nothing less than complete victory," Bush said. "When victory is achieved, our troops will then return home with the honor they have earned."

Asked how many Iraqi troops were now able to stand alone without the backing of U.S. troops, Bush said there were "about 200,000-plus capable" forces. He said the training of Iraqi troops was "going much better than it was in the first year."

Asked if the terrorist threat against the United States had been diminished by the war in Iraq, Bush said, "it's been reduced, but I don't think we're safe."

He said he realized the United States had an "image issue" around the world because of the war. He argued, though, that "success will help the image of the United States."