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Skriven 2007-07-14 23:30:46 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070714) for Sat, 2007 Jul 14
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President's Radio Address
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 14, 2007

President's Radio Address

˙˙President's Radio Address
˙˙Audio ˙˙En Espa¤ol

˙˙˙˙˙ Initial Benchmark Assessment Report ˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Renewal in Iraq
˙˙˙˙˙ National Security Council ˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: National Security

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.

This week, my Administration submitted to Congress an interim report on the
situation in Iraq. This report provides an initial assessment of how the
Iraqi government is doing in meeting the 18 benchmarks that Congress asked
us to measure. This is a preliminary report. In September, General Petraeus
and Ambassador Crocker will return to Washington to provide a more
comprehensive assessment.

The interim report released this week finds that the Iraqis have made
satisfactory progress in eight areas -- such as providing the three
brigades they promised for the surge, establishing joint security stations
in Baghdad neighborhoods, and providing $10 billion of their own money for
reconstruction. In eight other areas, the progress was unsatisfactory --
such as failing to prepare for local elections or pass a law to share oil
revenues. In two remaining areas, the progress was too unclear to be
characterized one way or the other.

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FAQ

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˙

˙ Those who believe that the battle in Iraq is lost are pointing to the
unsatisfactory performance on some of the political benchmarks. Those of us
who believe the battle in Iraq can and must be won see the satisfactory
performance on several of the security benchmarks as a cause for optimism.
Our strategy is built on the premise that progress on security will pave
the way for political progress. This report shows that conditions can
change, progress can be made, and the fight in Iraq can be won.

The strategy we are now pursuing is markedly different from the one we were
following last year. It became clear that our approach in Iraq was not
working. So I consulted my national security team, the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, and military commanders and diplomats on the ground. I brought in
outside experts to hear their ideas. And after listening to this advice, in
January I announced a new way forward -- sending reinforcements to help the
Iraqis protect their people, improve their security forces, and advance the
difficult process of reconciliation at both the national and local levels.

Our recent experience in Anbar Province shows what we hope to achieve
throughout Iraq. As recently as last September, Anbar was held up as an
example of America's failure in Iraq. Around the same time, the situation
began to change. Sunni tribes that had been fighting alongside al Qaeda
against our coalition came forward to fight alongside our coalition against
al Qaeda. So I sent reinforcements to take advantage of this opportunity.
And together we have driven al Qaeda from most of Anbar's capital city of
Ramadi -- and attacks there are now at a two-year low.

We are now carrying out operations to replicate the success in Anbar in
other parts of the country -- especially in the regions in and around
Baghdad. We are starting to take the initiative away from al Qaeda -- and
aiding the rise of an Iraqi government that can protect its people, deliver
basic services, and be an ally in the war against extremists and radicals.
By doing this, we are creating the conditions that will allow our troops to
begin coming home. When America starts drawing down our forces in Iraq, it
will be because our military commanders say the conditions on the ground
are right -- not because pollsters say it would be good politics.

Some people say the surge has been going for six months and that is long
enough to conclude that it has failed. In fact, the final reinforcements
arrived in Iraq just a month ago -- and only then was General Petraeus able
to launch the surge in full force. He and the troops who have begun these
dangerous operations deserve the time and resources to carry them out.

To begin to bring troops home before our commanders tell us we are ready
would be dangerous for our country. It would mean surrendering the future
of Iraq to al Qaeda, risking a humanitarian catastrophe, and allowing the
terrorists to establish a safe haven in Iraq and gain control of vast oil
resources they could use to fund new attacks on America. And it would
increase the probability that American troops would have to return at some
later date to confront an enemy that is even more dangerous.

Most Americans want to see two things in Iraq: They want to see our troops
succeed, and they want to see our troops begin to come home. We can do
both, and we will. Our troops in Iraq are serving bravely. They're making
great sacrifices. Changing the conditions in Iraq is difficult, and it can
be done. The best way to start bringing these good men and women home is to
make sure the surge succeeds.

Thank you for listening.

END

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