WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (AFP) - Visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi gave a rare address to a joint session of the US Congress on Thursday, vowing that Iraqi elections will go ahead in January as planned.
But US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned that unrest might prevent some parts of the country from voting.
"I know that some have speculated, even doubted whether this (January election) date can be met," Allawi told US lawmakers. "So let me be absolutely clear. Elections will occur in Iraq on time in January because Iraqis want elections on time."
Speaking in English after receiving a standing ovation, Allawi told the chamber: "We are succeeding in Iraq. It's a tough struggle with setbacks, but we are succeeding.
"My friends, today we are better off. You are better off. And the world is better off without Saddam Hussein. Your decision to go to war in Iraq was not an easy one, but it was the right one.
"We Iraqis know that Americans have made, and continue to make, enormous sacrifices to liberate Iraq, to assure Iraq's freedom," Allawi said. "I have come here to thank you, and to promise you that your sacrifices are not in vain.
"Thank you, America."
Later, he and Bush formed a unified front in the White House Rose Garden as they sought to soothe US worries just six weeks before the November 2 US presidential election while battling critics who have accused them of unrealistic optimism.
"Terrorist violence may well escalate as the January elections draw near," said Bush, whose credibility on Iraq has drawn fire from Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry but also from some fellow Republicans.
"The terrorists know that events in Iraq are reaching a decisive moment. If elections go forward, democracy in Iraq will put down permanent roots and terrorists will suffer a dramatic defeat," Bush said.
"If we stop fighting the terrorists in Iraq, they would be free to plot and plan attacks elsewhere, in America and other free nations. To retreat now would betray our mission, our word and our friends."
Accused of painting upbeat scenarios not in tune with the violent reality on the ground, Bush insisted: "You can understand it's tough and still be optimistic. You can understand how hard it is, and believe we'll succeed."
Shortly after Allawi's speech, Rumsfeld told a congressional committee that more US troops may have to be sent to Iraq to provide security for the January elections, which he said might not be held in parts of the country where the violence is too great.
"Let's say you tried to have an election and you could have it in three-quarters or four-fifths of the country, but some places you couldn't, because the violence was too great," he said.
"Well, so be it," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "You have an election that's not quite perfect. Is it better than not having an election? You bet."
General John Abizaid, the head of the US Central Command, told reporters Wednesday that more troops would be needed to secure the country ahead of the elections.
The United States is counting on Iraqi security forces to fill the gap, but both Abizaid and Rumsfeld admitted that the 140,000-member US force in Iraq may have to be beefed up at least temporarily.
"In the event General Abizaid decides he needs more forces to assist in the elections, like he has for example in Afghanistan, he'll ask and he'll get it," Rumsfeld said.
But Allawi insisted that 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces "are completely safe, there are no problems," adding that: "Although this is not what you see in your media, it is a fact."
Allawi's rare speech to a joint session of Congress comes amid Kerry's increasing criticism of Bush's handling of Iraq.
Speaking in Columbus, Ohio, shortly after Allawi's speech, Kerry said the premier was painting an unrealistically upbeat picture of the situation in his homeland.
"I think the prime minister is obviously contradicting his own statement of a few days ago where he said the terrorists are pouring into the country," Kerry said. "The prime minister and the president are here, obviously, to put their best face on the policy."
In a thinly veiled attack on Kerry, whom Bush has accused of sending "mixed messages" on Iraq, the two leaders also warned that criticism of the campaign there could embolden terrorists and dishearten US forces.
"You can embolden an enemy by sending mixed messages. You can dispirit the Iraqi people by sending mixed messages. You send the wrong message to our troops by sending mixed messages," said Bush.