Abstract

Election Postponed to Preserve Democracy

The article presents the transcript of a speech made by United States President George W. Bush regarding the possibility that the November 2004 presidential election could be postponed in the event of a terrorist attack. Our democracy has flourished for more than 200 years, nourished by the courageous spirit of the American people and the blood of American patriots. I have no doubt that these are the very virtues that have drawn the most evil forces in the world today to target our system for destruction. The shadowy networks of deadly terrorist groups and the criminal regimes that support them seek to sow doubts that this free and informed debate of issues, and the orderly succession of democratically elected leaders, cannot work. As a citizen of this nation, I am certain you have heard the reports of efforts by the Al Qaeda terrorist network to disrupt the 2004 presidential election, and to disrupt the elections for the United States Congress, the United States Senate and the elections of state and local officials across our land. Today, it is my solemn duty to inform you that agents of our Department of Homeland Security have confirmed without a shadow of a doubt that these reports are true. I sent to the U.S. Congress a resolution calling for temporary postponement of the 2004 elections until the safety of all our citizens can be guaranteed and the integrity of our electoral process preserved.