so we are determined to get everybody in the upcoming election. >> as you approach these elections, compared to when u.s. troops left iraq, is iraq more or less safe on this election? >> what we have -- in comparison to the elections, even before, we always had campaign by the terrorists al qaeda and their affiliate. in trying to disturb the election and trying to dissuade people from participation. so always anticipated that. and this election -- if you compare us to before the troop withdrawal, the participation is high. everyone's keen for parliament to be the only place for resolving the political differences. so in that sense, i think we are in the right trend. we are cementing a new culture of democracy in iraq. >> you wrote when you wrote in the "boston herald" recently. one of the things you said was on the security front, iraq needs american equipment and expertise as well as strategic