Wishful thinking is one thing, and reality another.

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

We need to make a distinction between misled Iraqis, those who believe that they are carrying weapons to liberate Iraq from what they call occupation, and criminal gangs that came from outside and wants to wage a deadly war on the Iraqi people, killing women and children in mosques and churches.

I believe the democratic transformation in Iraq will lead to change in Middle East.

Military confrontation is not a suitable alternative in confronting terror and current security threats.

A military coup needs a sacrifice and courage that you can't find in an army without morale.

I shall stand for freedom of thought and expression in a place where it has been trampled and penalized.