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Bush touts Iraq vote; Democrats want clear U.S. strategyBoth see hope in poll on draft constitution
(CNN) -- Calling Saturday's constitutional referendum "a critical step forward in Iraq's march toward democracy," President Bush said the vote will "deal a severe blow to the terrorists" striking out at the struggling democratic system. A leading Democrat, retired Gen. Wesley Clark, sent out a cautionary message about the larger context of what he says is expected to a "large turnout for the referendum: While it "seems to be an important step" for the country "let's not kid ourselves about the difficulties that lie ahead." The president on Saturday delivered his weekly radio address, and Clark, a Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, delivered the Democratic response. Bush said "after choosing their leaders in free elections in January, the Iraqi people have gone to the polls to vote on a democratic constitution. This constitution is the result of months of debate and compromise by representatives of Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious communities. "These leaders came together to produce a document that protects fundamental freedoms and lays the foundation for a lasting democracy." Clark, who was NATO's supreme allied commander during the Kosovo war in 1999, called the vote "an important political event" and said "I wish this were the end of the story in Iraq, but it isn't." He criticized the Bush administration's handling of the war in his remarks. "Public confidence in President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq has sunk to an all-time low. An increasing number of Americans of all political persuasions are now calling for expedited withdrawal of U.S. forces. "More and more Americans are angry. They are angry about the president's incompetence and his general unwillingness to acknowledge with some humility that he has made some terrible and tragic mistakes regarding the mission in Iraq." Clark opposes a premature withdrawal. "America cannot allow itself to be so blinded by anger over this administration's mishandling of events since the removal of Saddam Hussein from power that we are unable to see the danger of pushing for a premature withdrawal of U.S. forces. Those who would use terror as a tactic in Iraq would be rewarded and emboldened if we pull out prematurely. We cannot do that." He urged the president "to give the American people clear answers to basic questions" about the Iraqi operation. Bush praised compromise changes to the text that led to the endorsement of some Sunni Arab leaders, who will join Kurds and Shiite Arabs in backing the document. The voters, he predicted, will "deal a severe blow to the terrorists and send a clear message to the world: Iraqis will decide the future of their country through peaceful elections, not violent insurgency. " Discussing a recent letter allegedly from Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's No. 2 man, to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Bush said the message in it displays the anti-democratic stance of the militants and exposes problems for the insurgents' violent strategy. "This letter shows that al Qaeda intends to make Iraq a terrorist haven and a staging ground for attacks against other nations, including the United States. The letter makes equally clear that the terrorists have a problem: Their campaign of murder and mayhem is turning the people against them." However, al Qaeda in Iraq insists the letter to al-Zarqawi is a fake, according to a statement on several Islamist Web sites. (Full story) Clark said: "Mr. Bush is long overdue in providing a plan to achieve Iraqi military sufficiency, to build domestic political consensus inside Iraq around a new government, to achieve regional political stability around Iraq, and to finally achieve an efficient reconstruction effort in Iraq. He said "basic questions" must be asked about troop levels, politics, economic recovery, and regional diplomacy. "The Sunni minority is isolated, fatalistic, and increasingly anti-American. Many of the Iraqi forces we are training are able to fight with US leadership and support, but their real loyalty is in doubt. Militia forces are strong, they're well organized and, in fact, they are the ultimate arbiters in Iraq. They are preparing to settle factional disputes by force." He said there is "a long way to go before victory." "Staying the course is not a strategy, it is just a slogan. What we need to do is change the course and put in place a real strategy that will not only bring us success in Iraq, but will restore to the United States of America the moral authority we've lost through our missteps over the past three years." 
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