Washington: Citing New Delhi among the cities that have been struck by terrorists since the United States waged a war against terror after September 11 strikes, President George W Bush has asserted that fight against terrorism is far from over.

"Since September 11, the terrorists have taken lives – since the attacks on our nation that fateful day, the terrorists have attacked in Casablanca, Mombassa, Jerusalem, Amman, Riyadh, Baghdad, Karachi, New Delhi, Bali and Jakarta," Bush said in a speech to the New Hampshire Air and Army Guard Reservists in New Hampshire on October 8.

He said that after all the action the US has taken and all the progress it has made against terror, there is a temptation to think the danger has passed. However, the danger has not passed, he emphasised.

The terrorists, Bush said, continue to plot and plan against the US and its people. "America has only one option; we must fight this war until the work is done."

Referring to Iraq, he said, "Our work in Iraq has been long, it is hard and it is not finished. we will stay the course. We will complete our job. And beyond Iraq, the war on terror continues. There will be quick victory in this war. We will persevere and victory is certain.

The US goal in Iraq, Bush said, is to leave behind a stable, self-governing society, which will no longer be a threat to the Middle East and the US. "We are following an orderly plan to reach this goal," he said, pointing out Iraq now has a Governing Council, which has appointed interim government ministers. Once a constitution has been written, Iraq will move towards national elections.

"We want this process to go as quickly as possible," said Bush. "Yet it must be done right. The free institutions of Iraq must stand the test of time. And a democratic Iraq will stand as an example to all the Middle East. We believe – and the Iraqi people will show – that liberty is the hope and right of every land.

PTI