Maliki saw Islamic State as a way to exert pressure. If I am not re-elected, terror will befall you - that was his message.

The battle against terrorism is not only a military fight but primarily a battle of information.

Do not seek to find a reason why elections are not possible. Seek to make them possible, and they will be possible.

The Kurds' achievement was outstanding, both militarily and diplomatically. European governments recognized this and abandoned their resistance to weapons deliveries. Germany, too, acted correctly. Now, we need a joint military leadership so that the Kurds and the army can retake Mosul.

And we are grateful to the American young men and women who are risking their lives to give the Iraqi people this chance, this dream of democracy in Iraq now.

We are not panicking because we know that Islamic State cannot conquer the capital.

You know the most important thing the Americans did for Iraq apart from liberating the country from Saddam was helping Iraq reduce its debt. The United States worked very hard to reduce 80 percent of Iraqi debt.