Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12/2/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH / IRAQ (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-320862

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEAD: Bush Firm on Iraq Election Date

INTRO: President Bush says the Iraqi election scheduled for January 30th should not be postponed. V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House, the president says it is important for the vote to take place on time.

TEXT: Prominent Sunni Muslim politicians in Iraq say national elections should be delayed due to security concerns. But President Bush does not agree.

///BUSH ACT///

"The elections should not be postponed. It is time for the Iraqi citizens to go to the polls. And that is why we are very firm on the January 30th date."

///END ACT///

His comments came just one day after the U.S. Defense Department announced it would increase the number of American troops in Iraq to 150 thousand, the highest level since the start of the war 19 months ago.

During a brief question and answer session while posing for photos with visiting Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Bush was asked if the increase shows the security situation is not stable enough for elections to occur.

He said he approved the increase after his commanders in the field told him what was needed to make sure the elections could take place. The president also spoke of efforts to speed up training of Iraqi forces.

///BUSH ACT///

"And we want to help them have their presidential elections. And at some point in time, when Iraq is able to defend itself against the terrorists who are trying to destroy democracy, as I have said many times, our troops will come home with the honor they have earned."

///END ACT///

The president predicted that on election day, many people will be amazed by the rapid transformation of Iraq from a country of tyranny and torture to one where people can express themselves with a ballot. (signed)

NEB/PW/RH/FC