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| Statement by Congresswoman Heather Wilson Regarding Voting in Iraq |
October 17, 2005 |
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| Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson today issued the following statement about this weekend`s vote by the Iraqi people:
"The Iraqi people, including large numbers of Sunni`s, voted Saturday in the referendum on the Constitution. This is a welcome sign because the Iraqi people are choosing to participate in the political process that can eventually undermine support for the indigenous insurgency in Iraq.
Even more important, early indications are that the Constitution has been ratified by two thirds of the voters in at least 16 of 18 provinces – the requirement for ratification.
The next step in building Iraq`s political future is elections in December under this new, completely Iraqi Constitution. Broad participation in these elections will continue to build political momentum for a new self-governing Iraq at peace with its neighbors.
While the political process moves forward, the United States and its allies must continue to train Iraqi police and security forces so that week by week, month by month, more neighborhoods, towns and provinces are patrolled and controlled by Iraqis.
We must also continue to conduct military operations against insurgents and foreign fighters in Iraq, particularly al Qaeda in Iraq.
There are still difficult days ahead and much work to be done – much of it done by our men and women in the military. But today`s progress was an important step in Iraq`s future.
I expect U.S. forces will continue to stay in Iraq through December`s elections at roughly their current level. But, if political and security progress continues on roughly the course we are on, American forces should be able to start being drawn down in significant numbers during the course of next year."
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