Text 1738, 175 rader
Skriven 2005-11-17 23:33:08 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0511178) for Thu, 2005 Nov 17
====================================================

===========================================================================
Setting the Record Straight: The Senate Amendment On The Strategy For
Victory In Iraq
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
November 17, 2005

Setting the Record Straight: The Senate Amendment On The Strategy For
Victory In Iraq



Today, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) Claimed That The Senate Voted To Send A
Message "To Change The Course In Iraq." SEN. REID: "This week, Senate
Democrats and Republicans right here in this Senate voted overwhelmingly to
send the President this message - it's time to change course in Iraq."
(Sen. Reid, Floor Speech, 11/17/05)

  þ Senator Reid Said The Senate Amendment On Iraq Was A Vote Of "No
    Confidence." (Sen. Reid, Press Conference, 11/15/05)

But Chairman Of The Armed Services Committee Senator John Warner (R-VA),
Sponsor Of The Amendment, Has Said: "I Think This Is Supportive Of The
Strong Points The President Has Consistently Made. In No Way Is It To Be
Construed, In My Judgment, As Critical. This Is A Forward-Looking
Amendment." (Sen. Warner, Press Conference, 11/15/05)

The Fact Is That The Senate Amendment Reiterates The President's Strategy
In Iraq.

The Senate Amendment Says Iraqi Security Forces Should Take The Lead In
Securing Their Country. "Calendar year 2006 should be a period of
significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security
forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq,
thereby creating conditions for the phased redeployment of United States
forces from Iraq; United States military forces should not stay in Iraq any
longer than required and the people of Iraq should be so advised." (S.Amdt.
2518 To S. 1042, CQ Vote #323: Adopted 79-19: R 41-13; D 37-6; I 1-0,
11/15/05)

    The President Has Said Iraqi Security Forces Are Taking More And More
    Responsibility For Their Own Security.

  þ President Bush Discussed The Strategy To Train Iraqi Forces To "Stand
    Up" So America Can "Stand Down." PRESIDENT BUSH: "As we pursue the
    terrorists, we have a strategy to go forward. Our military is helping
    to train Iraqi security forces so they can defend their people and take
    the fight to the enemy. And we're making steady progress. With every
    passing month, more and more Iraqi forces are standing up, and the
    Iraqi military is gaining new capabilities and new confidence. At the
    time of our Fallujah operations just a year ago, there were only a few
    Iraqi army battalions in combat. Today, there are nearly 90 Iraqi army
    battalions fighting the terrorists alongside our forces. American and
    Iraqi troops are conducting major assaults to clear out enemy fighters
    in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq. Iraqi police and security forces
    are helping clear the terrorists from their strongholds, hold on to the
    areas we've cleared, and prevent the enemy from returning. Our strategy
    can be summed up this way: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down.
    And when our commanders on the ground tell me that the Iraqi forces can
    defend their freedom, our troops will come home with the honor they
    have earned." (President Bush, Remarks On The War On Terror, Anchorage,
    AK, 11/14/05)

  þ Lieutenant General David Petraeus: "Well, Here's The Bottom Line
    Up-Front For You. The Iraqi Security Forces Are In The Fight; They Are
    Fighting For Their Country. They Are, As This Notes, Increasingly
    Leading That Fight." (Lt. General David Petraeus, Remarks On "Iraq's
    Evolving Forces," Washington, D.C., 11/7/05)

  þ After Returning From Iraq, CNN Military Analyst Retired Major General
    Don Shepperd Said Iraqi Forces Are Beginning To Take Charge. SHEPPERD:
    "The Iraqi forces are ready to protect the polling places. They're
    ready. They're starting to get ready in various areas. For instance, 20
    percent of the territory of Baghdad has already been turned over to
    Iraqi forces. You're starting to see that spread slowly as they come up
    to speed. When they come up to speed, they are matched with U.S.
    forces, and then they are given their own territory. All of that
    appears to me to be working. It's slow, tough work, and we'll be there
    for a while helping them." (CNN's "Live From," 10/11/05)

The Senate Amendment Says Iraqis Should Achieve A "Broad-Based And
Sustainable Political Settlement." "The Administration should tell the
leaders of all groups and political parties in Iraq that they need to make
the compromises necessary to achieve the broad-based and sustainable
political settlement that is essential for defeating the insurgency in
Iraq, within the schedule they set for themselves." (S.Amdt. 2518 To S.
1042, CQ Vote #323: Adopted 79-19: R 41-13; D 37-6; I 1-0, 11/15/05)

    The President Has Discussed The Incredible Progress Iraqis Are Making
    Toward Democracy Through A Broad-Based Political Process.

  þ The President Discussed The Strategy To Build A Lasting Democracy In
    Iraq. PRESIDENT BUSH: "And the second part of our strategy is a
    political strategy. Iraqis are making inspiring progress toward
    building a democracy. A month ago, millions of Iraqis turned out to
    vote for a constitution that guarantees fundamental freedoms and lays
    the foundation for a lasting democracy. In a few weeks, Iraqis will
    vote again, to choose a fully constitutional government to lead them
    for the next four years. This country is making amazing progress from
    the days of being under the thumb of a brutal tyrant. In two-and-a-half
    years, they've gone from tyranny, to an election for a transitional
    government, to the ratification of a constitution, to the election of a
    free government. It's amazing progress when you think about it. The
    Iraqi people are proving their determination to build a future founded
    on democracy and peace. And the United States of America will help them
    succeed." (President Bush, Remarks On The War On Terror, Anchorage, AK,
    11/14/05)

  þ Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice Outlined America's Strategy For "A
    Political Transition To A Permanent, Constitutional Democracy." SEC.
    RICE: "In 2005, we emphasized transition: a security transition to
    greater reliance on Iraqi forces and a political transition to a
    permanent, constitutional democracy. The just-concluded referendum was
    a landmark in that process. And now we are preparing for 2006. First we
    must help Iraqis as they hold another vital election in December. Well
    over nine million Iraqis voted on Sunday. Whether Iraqis voted yes or
    no, they were voting for an Iraqi nation, and for Iraqi democracy. And
    all their voices, pro and con, will be heard again in December. If the
    referendum passes, those who voted no this time will realize that their
    chosen representatives can then participate in the review of the
    constitution that was agreed upon last week. This process will
    ultimately lead to Iraqis selecting a lasting government, for a four
    year term." (Sec. Rice, Committee On Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate,
    10/19/05)

The Senate Amendment Requires Reports On The Strategy For Victory. "Reports
to Congress on United States Policy and Military Operations in Iraq. Not
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every
three months thereafter until all United States combat brigades have
redeployed from Iraq, the President shall submit to Congress an
unclassified report on United States policy and military operations in
Iraq." (S.Amdt. 2518 To S. 1042, CQ Vote #323: Adopted 79-19: R 41-13; D
37-6; I 1-0, 11/15/05)

    The Administration Is Continually Working With Congress To Report On
    The Situation In Iraq.

  þ President Bush Urged Members Of Congress To Attend Briefings By The
    Commanders In Iraq. PRESIDENT BUSH: "I urge the members of Congress to
    attend the briefings with Generals Abizaid and Casey. I urge them to
    ask questions about our efforts in Iraq and to listen carefully about
    the type of war we fight. The support of Congress for our troops and
    our mission is important, and Americans need to know about the gains
    we've made in recent weeks and months. They need to know the way we're
    adopting our tactics and the way we're changing our strategy to meet
    the needs on the ground. As members of Congress speak with Generals
    Abizaid and Casey, I'm confident they'll see what I see - our leaders,
    these two Generals are men of vision and determination, and it is their
    leadership that is helping bring victory in the war on terror."
    (President Bush, President Meets With Generals Abizaid And Casey,
    Discusses War On Terror, Washington, D.C., 9/28/05)

  þ The Departments Of Defense And State Send "Literally Dozens Of
    Iraqi-Related Reports To Congress Each Year." SEC. RUMSFELD: "Just a
    piece of factual information. I'm told that the Department of Defense
    and the Department of State send literally dozens of Iraqi-related
    reports to Congress each year already. Seven are required reports. We
    have seven voluntary briefings. We have 28 I.G. reports, 52 GAO
    reports, and regular classified updates on the Iraqi security forces,
    which I believe go up there every month. Many of those things address
    what, as I recall, an earlier draft of that amendment may have covered.
    And that's fine. I mean, that's all part of the interaction between the
    executive and legislative branch. And they have every right to ask for
    reports. And we send - I don't know - it's something over 900 reports
    total every year from the Department of Defense to the Congress. I hope
    someone reads them." (Sec. Rumsfeld, Press Briefing, 11/15/05)

# # #
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051117-8.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)