We, and you, cannot afford to cede Iraq to the evil forces of terrorism and religious fanaticism. In two years, there will be no need for American forces.

Rather, it is through conciliation and compromise that we are building a fair Iraq, a just state for all its peoples.

We need to ignore some petty or nonessential or marginal issues in order to achieve national unity for Iraq, including the unity of the opposition.

As president of Iraq, I shall strive to represent the diversity of a country that has too often in the past denied difference.

The choice of peace or war lies not with the Iraqis who ignored terrorism and intimidation to vote in their millions, the Iraqis to whom I am accountable.

Now, the time has come for the rest of the world to recognize that a federal, democratic Iraq that can defend itself against terrorism is a goal worthy of broad international support.