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Skriven 2007-03-19 23:31:18 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070319) for Mon, 2007 Mar 19
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President Bush Discusses Fourth Anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary March 19, 2007

President Bush Discusses Fourth Anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Roosevelt Room

˙ Video (Windows) ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio ˙˙En Espa_

˙˙˙˙˙ Fact Sheet: Four Years Later: New Strategy Requires Patience and
Determination ˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Defense ˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Renewal in Iraq

11:30 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Four years ago today, coalition forces
launched Operation Iraqi Freedom to remove Saddam Hussein from power. They
did so to eliminate the threat his regime posed to the Middle East and to
the world. Coalition forces carried out that mission with great courage and
skill. Today the world is rid of Saddam Hussein and a tyrant has been held
to account for his crimes by his own people.

Nearly 12 million Iraqis have voted in free elections under a democratic
constitution that they wrote for themselves. And their democratic leaders
are now working to build a free society that upholds the rule of law, that
respects the rights of its people, that provides them security and is an
ally in the war on terror.

At this point in the war, our most important mission is helping the Iraqis
secure their capital. Until Baghdad's citizens feel secure in their own
homes and neighborhoods, it will be difficult for Iraqis to make further
progress toward political reconciliation or economic rebuilding, steps
necessary for Iraq to build a democratic society.

So with our help, Iraq's government is carrying out an aggressive plan to
secure Baghdad. And we're continuing to train the Iraqi security forces so
that they ultimately take full responsibility for the security of their own
people.

I've just received an update on the situation from Iraqi Prime Minister
Maliki. My conversation with the Prime Minister followed a briefing earlier
this morning that included Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates, along with
General Petraeus and Ambassador Khalilzad, who participated by video
conference from Iraq.

Prime Minister Maliki and General Petraeus emphasized that the Baghdad
security plan is still in its early stages, and success will take months,
not days or weeks. Yet, those on the ground are seeing some hopeful signs.
The Iraqi government has completed the deployment of three Iraqi army
brigades to the capital, where they've joined the seven Iraqi army brigades
and nine national police brigades that were already in the area.

The Iraqi government has also lifted restrictions that once prevented Iraqi
and coalition forces from going into areas like Sadr City. American and
Iraqi forces have established joint security stations. Those stations are
scattered throughout Baghdad and they're helping Iraqis reclaim their
neighborhoods from the terrorists and extremists.

Together, we've carried out aggressive operations against both Shia and
Sunni extremists; carried out operations against al Qaeda terrorists. We've
uncovered large caches of weapons and destroyed two major car bomb
factories that were located on the outskirts of Baghdad.

I want to stress that this operation is still in the early stages, it's
still in the beginning stages. Fewer than half of the troop reinforcements
we are sending have arrived in Baghdad. The new strategy will need more
time to take effect. And there will be good days, and there will be bad
days ahead as the security plan unfolds.

As we help the Iraqis secure their capital, their leaders are also
beginning to meet the benchmarks they have laid out for political
reconciliation. Last month, Iraq's Council of Ministers approved a law that
would share oil revenues among Iraqi people. The Iraqi legislature passed a
$41 billion budget that includes $10 billion for reconstruction and capital
improvements. And last week, Prime Minister Maliki visited Ramadi, a city
in the Sunni heartland, to reach out to local Sunni tribal leaders.

There's been good progress. There's a lot more work to be done, and Iraq's
leaders must continue to work to meet the benchmarks that have set forward.

As Iraqis work to keep their commitments, we have important commitments of
our own. Members of Congress are now considering an emergency war spending
bill. They have a responsibility to ensure that this bill provides the
funds and the flexibility that our troops need to accomplish their mission.
They have a responsibility to pass a clean bill that does not use funding
for our troops as leverage to get special interest spending for their
districts. And they have a responsibility to get this bill to my desk
without strings and without delay.

It can be tempting to look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude our best
option is to pack up and go home. That may be satisfying in the short run,
but I believe the consequences for American security would be devastating.
If American forces were to step back from Baghdad before it is more secure,
a contagion of violence could spill out across the entire country. In time,
this violence could engulf the region. The terrorists could emerge from the
chaos with a safe haven in Iraq to replace the one they had in Afghanistan,
which they used to plan the attacks of September the 11th, 2001. For the
safety of the American people, we cannot allow this to happen.

Prevailing in Iraq is not going to be easy. General Petraeus says that the
environment in Iraq is the most challenging that he has seen in his more
than 32 years of service. He also says that he has been impressed by the
professionalism and the skill and determination of our men and women in
uniform. He sees in our troops "a true will to win and a sincere desire to
help our Iraqi partners achieve success."

Four years after this war began, the fight is difficult, but it can be won.
It will be won if we have the courage and resolve to see it through. I'm
grateful to our servicemen and women for all they've done and for the honor
they brought to their uniform and their country. I'm grateful to our
military families for all the sacrifices they have made for our country. We
also hold in our hearts the good men and women who've given their lives in
this struggle. We pray for the loved ones they have left behind.

The United States military is the most capable and courageous fighting
force in the world. And whatever our differences in Washington, our troops
and their families deserve the appreciation and the support of our entire
nation.

Thank you.

END 11:38 A.M. EDT

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