WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi told U.S. lawmakers Thursday the forces of freedom are "succeeding in Iraq."
"We are succeeding in Iraq," Allawi told a joint session of Congress. "We Iraqis know that Americans have made, and continue to make, enormous sacrifices to liberate Iraq, to assure Iraq's freedom, I have come here to thank you, and to promise you that your sacrifices are not in vain."
Allawi's visit comes at time when violence is on the rise in Iraq and President Bush is under increased criticism from Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts for entering Iraq under false pretenses and mishandling the post-invasion period.
In his speech, he also echoed the Bush administration stance that since it became clear the Weapons of Mass Destruction would not be found in the country that the world is better off with Saddam Hussein out of power and promised national elections would be held in January as scheduled.
"Today we are better off, you are better off, the world is better off without Saddam Hussein," said Allawi. "Your decision to go to war in Iraq was not an easy one, but it was the right one."
