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Skriven 2006-06-13 23:33:42 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (060613) for Tue, 2006 Jun 13
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President Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq, Meets with Prime Minister
Maliki in Baghdad
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 13, 2006

President Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq, Meets with Prime Minister
Maliki in Baghdad
Via Videoconference with Camp David Participants


˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Renewal in Iraq

10:36 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for this opportunity to visit
with your cabinet. I have expressed our country's desire to work with you,
but I appreciate you recognizing the fact that the future of this country
is in your hands. The decisions you and your cabinet make will be
determinate as to whether or not a country succeeds that can govern itself,
sustain itself, and defend itself. I'm impressed by the cabinet that you've
assembled. You've assembled people from all parts of your country,
representing the different religions and the different histories and
traditions.

And yet the cabinet here represents the entire Iraqi people, and I
appreciate your commitment to representing the people of Iraq. I'm
impressed by the strength of your character and your desire to succeed. And
I'm impressed by your strategy. We've discussed -- I discussed earlier with
the Prime Minister and here with his cabinet and with members of my Cabinet
the strategy necessary to have a country that is capable of answering to
the needs of the people.

We discussed the security strategy. We discussed an economic strategy, a
reconstruction strategy. And all of it makes sense to me. And so I've come
to not only look you in the eye, I've also come to tell you that when
America gives its word, it will keep its word; that it's in our interests
that Iraq succeed. It's not only in the interests of the Iraqi people, it's
in the interests of the American people and for people who love freedom.

Iraq is a part of the war on terror. Iraq is a central front on that war,
and when Iraq succeeds in having a government of and by and for the people
of Iraq, you will have dealt a serious blow to those who have a vision of
darkness, who don't believe in liberty, who are willing to kill the
innocent in order to achieve a political objective.

And so, Mr. Prime minister, I want to thank you for giving me and my
Cabinet a chance to hear from you personally and a chance to meet the
members of this team you've assembled. It's an impressive group of men and
women, and if given the right help, I'm convinced you will succeed, and so
will the world.

END 10:39 A.M. EDT

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