25 October 2006
Bush Reaffirms Support for Iraq
Tactics may change, but victory for Iraqis remains U.S. objective
Washington – President Bush said that although the United States is adapting its military tactics in Iraq, its objective remains unchanged: a democratic Iraq capable of defending and governing its people while becoming a regional ally in the War on Terror.
“Americans have no intention of taking sides in a sectarian struggle or standing in the crossfire between rival factions,“ Bush said October 25 at a White House press conference. “Our mission is to help the elected government in Iraq defeat common enemies, to bring peace and stability to Iraq, and make our nation more secure. "
The president reiterated the message delivered jointly by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and Multi-National Force – Iraq Commander General George W. Casey on October 24 that success in Iraq remains within reach and can be achieved by helping the Iraqi government to define and meet a series of significant military and political goals over the next 12 to 18 months. (See related article.)
“We're pressing Iraq's leaders to take bold measures to save their country. We're making it clear that America's patience is not unlimited. Yet we also understand the difficult challenges Iraq's leaders face, and we will not put more pressure on the Iraqi government than it can bear,” Bush said.
Since the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the president said, the security situation in Iraq has been changing continuously -- from an insurgency dominated by former regime figures and criminal gangs to today’s complex mix of sectarian “death squads,” foreign terrorists, and other violent elements united only in their dedication to destroying Iraq’s infant democracy. (See related article.)
This month has seen some of the conflict’s fiercest fighting as coalition-backed Iraqi troops have conducted their most aggressive operations to date aimed at controlling the continuing violence and centered mainly in area around Baghdad, Iraq. Bush said the United States would continue to adapt its tactics in an effort to help Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government take control of the security situation. (See related article.)
“Commanders on the ground are constantly adjusting our tactics to stay ahead of our enemies. We are refining our training strategy for the Iraqi security forces so we can help more of those forces take the lead in the fight, and provide them better equipment and firepower to be successful. We've increased the number of coalition advisers in the Iraqi ministries of Defense and Interior so they can better plan and execute security operations against the enemy,” Bush said. (See related article.)
In addition, the president said, coalition commanders have the flexibility to rapidly move forces into conflict zones, as they did to secure the country in the run-up to elections in 2005, and as they have done again in 2006 in support of the Iraqi government’s security plan for the capital region. Bush said the commanders might do so again, if requested.
“I will send more troops to Iraq if General Casey says, ‘I need more troops in Iraq to achieve victory,’” he said.
But Bush emphasized that military force alone will not stop the violence and highlighted the need for continued diplomatic efforts to support the Iraqi government as it brings together leaders from all of Iraq’s ethnic and religious communities to craft a political solution and stop sectarian violence.
“The way to succeed in Iraq is to help Iraq's government grow in strength and assume more control over its country as quickly as possible,” the president explained.
The United States, Bush said, is working with political and religious leaders across the country, urging them to take action to restrain extremist elements among their members. The United States also is helping the Iraqi government develop a national compact -- a plan to resolve the most difficult political issues facing the government, including division of energy revenue, and reigning in militias. (See related article.)
Finally, Bush said, the United States also is reaching out to some of Iraq’s neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, to help Iraq by persuading Sunni insurgents to lay down their arms and support the Iraqi government’s national reconciliation process.
As for the country’s other neighbors, Iran and Syria, Bush said that the international community’s expectations of them are clear -- not only for Iraq, but also for the wider region. Both countries need to commit themselves to helping Iraq succeed, restrain terrorist groups and begin to contribute positively to regional security.
It is a difficult task for any country to solve problems caused by decades of tyrannical misrule, Bush said, let alone for a new, democratically elected government that has been in office for less than five months and also is defending itself from terrorists and sectarian violence. But the president stressed he remains confident in their ultimate success.
“We're winning, and we will win,” Bush said, “unless we leave before the job is done.”
A transcript of Bush’s remarks is available form the White House Web site.
For more information, see Iraq Update.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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