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Skriven 2007-02-21 23:31:18 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0702218) for Wed, 2007 Feb 21
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Sen. Reid On British Transfer Of Basra Responsibilities To Iraqis
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For Immediate Release
February 21, 2007

Sen. Reid On British Transfer Of Basra Responsibilities To Iraqis

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ÿÿÿÿÿ Setting the Record Straight

"The fact that they have made some progress on the ground is going to
enable them to move some of the forces out, and that's ultimately the kind
of thing that we want to be able to see throughout Iraq. As the President
said all along, the idea is to build greater Iraqi capability, and when the
time comes, to be able to move folks out."

- White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, 2/21/07

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Calls British Decision To Transfer More
Responsibilities To The Iraqis An Acknowledgement Of "A Reality That
President Bush Still Stubbornly Refuses To Accept." (Sen. Harry Reid
(D-NV), Statement, 2/21/07)
  þ In Announcing His Decision, Prime Minister Blair Notes That The British
    Action Is Based On Conditions On The Ground, Not An Artificial
    Timeline: "The speed at which this happens depends, of course, in part
    on what we do, what the Iraqi authorities themselves do; but also on
    the attitude of those we are, together, fighting. Their claim to be
    fighting for the liberation of their country is a palpable lie. They
    know perfectly well that if they stopped the terror, agreed to let the
    UN democratic process work and allowed the natural talent and wealth of
    the country to emerge, Iraq would prosper. We would be able to leave.
    It is precisely their intent to eliminate such a possibility." (Prime
    Minister Tony Blair, Statement On Iraq And The Middle East, 2/21/07)
  þ Prime Minister Blair: Transferring Responsibility Will Not "Mean A
    Diminution In The [UK's] Combat Capability." (Prime Minister Tony
    Blair, Statement On Iraq And The Middle East, 2/21/07)
  þ Prime Minister Blair: It Is Important To Show "That However Long It
    Takes, The Legitimate Iraqi Government ... Will Prevail." "The aim of
    the additional US forces announced by President Bush is precisely to
    demonstrate that determination. If the Plan succeeds, then, of course,
    the requirement for the MNF reduces including in Baghdad." (Prime
    Minister Tony Blair, Statement On Iraq And The Middle East, 2/21/07)
      þ Prime Minister Blair: "It Is Important To Show The Iraqi People
        That We Do Not Desire Our Forces To Remain Any Longer Than They Are
        Needed; But Whilst They Are Needed, We Will Be At Their Side."
      þ Prime Minister Blair: "In This Context, What Is Happening In Basra
        Is Of Huge Importance." "Over the past months, we have been
        conducting an operation in Basra, with the 10th Division of the
        Iraqi Army, to reach the stage where Basra can be secured by the
        Iraqis themselves. The situation in Basra is very different from
        Baghdad. ... As a result of this operation [in Basra], which is now
        complete, the Iraqi Forces now have the primary role for security
        in most parts of the city."
  þ Prime Minister Blair: "But What Nobody Should Doubt Is That Whatever
    The Debates About Tactics, The Strategy Is Clear: To Bring About
    Enduring Change In The Middle East As An Indispensable Part Of Our Own
    Enduring Security." "The poisonous ideology that erupted after 9/11 has
    its roots there, and is still nurtured and supported there. It has
    chosen Iraq as the battleground. Defeating it is essential." (Prime
    Minister Tony Blair, Statement On Iraq And The Middle East, 2/21/07)

Sen. Reid Misrepresents The New Way Forward In Iraq

Sen. Reid Misrepresents The President's New Iraq Strategy: "Instead of
escalating against the express will of Congress and the American people,
the President should follow the advice of military leaders and the
bipartisan Iraq Study Group and change course in Iraq." (Sen. Harry Reid
(D-NV), Statement, 2/21/07)
  þ President Bush: "People Are Prejudging The Outcome" Of The New Iraq
    Strategy "Before It Has A Chance To Work." "I concluded that to step
    back from the fight in Baghdad would have disastrous consequences for
    people in America. That's the conclusion I came to. It's the conclusion
    members of my staff came to. It's the conclusion that a lot in the
    military came to." (President Bush, Press Conference, The White House,
    2/14/07)
      þ The President: "[The House Iraq resolution] may become the first
        time in the history of the United States Congress that it has voted
        to send a new commander into battle and then voted to oppose his
        plan that is necessary to succeed in that battle." (President Bush,
        Remarks To The American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC,
        2/15/07)
  þ Gen. David Petraeus: Additional Troops Are Necessary To Get The Job
    Done. SEN. MCCAIN: "Suppose we send you over to your new job, General,
    only we tell you that we can't have - you can't have any additional
    troops. Can you get your job done?" GEN. PETRAEUS: "No, sir."
    (Committee On Armed Services, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 1/23/07)
  þ Iraq Study Group Co-Chair And Former Secretary Of State James A. Baker,
    III: "Both Of" The Iraq Study Group's "Conditions" For Additional
    Troops To Secure Baghdad "Have Been Met." (Committee On Foreign
    Relations, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 1/30/07)
      þ Sec. Baker: "There Are Some Very Important Points Of Similarity
        Between The Study Group's Report And The President's Plan For
        Security." (Committee On Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Hearing,
        1/30/07)

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