In this week’s radio address, President Bush discusses his meeting with the leader of Iraq:
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I returned home this week from a visit to the Middle East. On my trip, I met with Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq to discuss how we can improve the situation on the ground in his country and help the Iraqis build a lasting democracy..My meeting with Prime Minister Maliki was our third since he took office six months ago. With each meeting, I’m coming to know him better, and I’m becoming more impressed by his desire to make the difficult choices that will put his country on a better path. During our meeting, I told the Prime Minister that America is ready to make changes to better support the unity government of Iraq, and that several key principles will guide our efforts..First, the success of Prime Minister Maliki’s government is critical to success in Iraq. His unity government was chosen through free elections in which nearly 12 million Iraqis cast their ballots in support of democracy. Our goal in Iraq is to strengthen his democratic government and help Iraq’s leaders build a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself — and is an ally in the war on terror.
This really is key. We need a friendly government over there- and the days of picking some dictatorial strong-man type are over. We need friends, but they must be legitimate leaders ultimately chosen by their people. The President continues…
Second, the success of the Iraqi government depends on the success of the Iraqi security forces. The training of Iraqi security forces has been steady, yet we both agreed that we need to do more, and we need to do it faster. The Prime Minister wants to show the people who elected him that he’s willing to make the hard decisions necessary to provide security..To do that, he needs larger and more capable Iraqi forces under his control, and he needs them quickly. By helping Iraq’s elected leaders get the Iraqi forces they need, we will help Iraq’s democratic government become more effective in fighting the terrorists and other violent extremists, and in providing security and stability, particularly in Baghdad.
If the government stays unable to provide for basic security, the people will look elsewhere. This is what causes the rise in the power and prestige of militias and warlords. Authorizing the destruction of Mookie Al Sadr and his army would be a great place to start.
Third, success in Iraq requires strong institutions that will stand the test of time and hardship. Our goal in Iraq is to help Prime Minister Maliki build a country that is united, where the rule of law prevails and the rights of minorities are respected. The Prime Minister made clear that splitting his country into parts is not what the Iraqi people want and that any partition of Iraq would lead to an increase in sectarian violence..Security in Iraq requires sustained action by the Iraqi security forces, yet in the long term, security in Iraq hinges on reconciliation among Iraq’s different ethnic and religious communities. And the Prime Minister has committed his government to achieving that goal.
Hopefully President Bush told Maliki that if a partition is not what he and his people want, then they should GET UP OFF THEIR DUFFS AND DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT IT!
The Prime Minister and I also discussed the review of America’s strategy in Iraq that is now nearing completion. As part of this review, I’ve asked our military leaders in the Pentagon and those on the ground in Iraq to provide their recommendations on the best way forward.
Hopefully the "best way forward" means victory, and not what this might mean:
A bipartisan panel, led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, is also conducting a review. And I look forward to receiving their report next week. I want to hear all advice before I make any decisions about adjustments to our strategy in Iraq.
Undoubtably, the bipartisan panel made up of consummate "negotiators" will recommend negotiation. We’ll talk, and our enemies will continue their deadly machinations. Don’t do it, Mr. President!
I recognize that the recent violence in Iraq has been unsettling. Many people in our country are wondering about the way forward. The work ahead will not be easy, yet by helping Prime Minister Maliki strengthen Iraq’s democratic institutions and promote national reconciliation, our military leaders and diplomats can help put Iraq on a solid path to liberty and democracy. The decisions we make in Iraq will be felt across the broader Middle East.
This is the best part of the President’s radio message:
Failure in Iraq would embolden the extremists who hate America and want nothing more than to see our demise. It would strengthen the hand of those who are seeking to undermine young democracies across the region and give the extremists an open field to overthrow moderate governments, take control of countries, impose their rule on millions, and threaten the American people. Our Nation must not allow this to happen.
If we let them succeed in their efforts at getting the US to "cut and run", the radical Islamofascist enemy would certainly look to continue their pursuit of victory over us in some other venue and front- ultimately here on our own soil.
Success in Iraq will require leaders in Washington — Republicans and Democrats alike — to come together and find greater consensus on the best path forward. So I will work with leaders in both parties to achieve this goal. Together we can help Iraqis build a free and democratic nation in the heart of the Middle East, strengthen moderates and reformers across the region who are working for peace, and leave our children and grandchildren a more secure and hopeful world..Thank you for listening.
Good luck in getting the Dems aboard, Mr. President. Democrats want to derail this thing to derail YOU and your legacy. They can’t ever let you be proven right… on anything. Unfortunately, in their zeal to do you in, they may do us all in.