    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [March 28, 2006]
    [Pages 589-590]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Cabinet Meeting
    March 28, 2006

        Good morning. We've just finished our third Cabinet meeting of this
    year. I want to thank my Cabinet members for joining us. We talked about
    the war on terror. We talked about a war on terror that requires all of
    us involved in Government to respond and to protect America and help
    spread freedom.
        My Cabinet officials obviously have got many responsibilities in
    their agencies, but we talked about their need to assume additional
    responsibilities to make sure that we're using every element of national
    power to win the war on terror and to secure the peace.
        This morning we had briefings from General Abizaid, Ambassador Khalilzad, and
    General Casey. We heard from the
    Ambassador about work toward a unity government. I'm pleased to hear
    from Zal that the Iraqis are now back at the table discussing the
    formation of a government, the process by which they will conduct a
    government once a unity government is formed, as well as, obviously,
    beginning to continue to--or continuing to discuss who will fill the key
    slots in the government.

    [[Page 590]]

        We also heard from General Abizaid as
    well as General Casey, who reported on
    the ongoing efforts to win this war on terror, to defeat the enemy all
    around General Abizaid's theater of responsibility, as well as defeat
    the enemy in the central front in the war on terror, which is Iraq.
        I appreciate very much General Pace joining
    us today as well. These leaders, folks on the ground who know the
    condition on the ground, recognize this is hard work, but they also
    report on steady progress that we're making toward meeting our important
    goals--important goal is to make sure Iraq is a democracy that can
    sustain herself, defend herself, and is not a safe haven for the
    terrorists.
        Tomorrow I'm going to deliver a third in a series of speeches about
    the situation in Iraq. During Saddam Hussein's brutal rule, he exploited the ethnic and religious
    diversity of Iraq by setting communities against one another. And now
    the terrorists and former regime elements are doing the same; they're
    trying to set off a civil war through acts of sectarian violence. But
    the United States and our Iraqi forces cannot be defeated militarily.
    The only thing the Iraqi insurgents, as well as the terrorists, can
    possibly do is to cause us to lose our nerve and retreat, to withdraw.
        I'm going to discuss how the Iraqi people and our coalition continue
    to work together to build a stable and free and prosperous Iraq. I'll
    remind the people we're not going to lose our nerve. The stakes are
    high; we will complete this mission. Our strategy for rebuilding Iraq is
    comprehensive, and it includes a commitment from all parts of the
    Federal Government.
        Secretary Rice encouraged our Cabinet
    members to build relationships with their counterparts in Iraq once the
    new Iraqi Government is formed, and I expect them to follow through on
    that--on their commitments. See, by making a broad commitment from the
    Federal Government, we'll help the Iraqis establish a democracy, we'll
    help them build the institutions necessary for a stable society, and
    we'll help defeat the terrorists.
        Today was the--today two members of my Cabinet--we had the honor--a
    chance to honor two members of my Cabinet who won't be with us much
    longer: Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton
    and Chief of Staff Andy Card. These two
    folks have served our country with distinction and honor. I am proud to
    work side by side with them, and I'm proud to call them friend. Thank
    you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:20 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. John P. Abizaid, USA,
    commander, U.S. Central Command; Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., USA,
    commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq; Gen. Peter Pace, USMC,
    Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and former President Saddam Hussein of
    Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of these remarks.