"It is up to the people of Iraq to establish their democracy, and that is what they are doing with the January 30th elections.  More than 14 million Iraqis are registered to vote for some 19,000 candidates.  Although the terrorists continue their war on democracy and the Iraqi elections, I believe that the people of Iraq want freedom and will make their voices heard.  It is in the interest of our nation and the world to help Iraq become a stable society with an elected government.  I agree with President Bush that our liberty at home is strengthened by liberty in other nations.  After these elections, we can begin to look toward reducing our presence in that nation and giving the Iraqis the responsibility for preserving their freedom against the forces of terror."