    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [May 12, 2006]
    [Pages 921-922]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Military and Diplomatic Leaders
    May 12, 2006

        I've just completed a second meeting with former Secretaries of
    State and former Secretaries of Defense on Iraq. We also discussed the
    broader Middle East as well.

    [[Page 922]]

        I want to thank you all very much for sharing your thoughts not only
    with me but with the Vice President and
    Secretary Rice and Secretary
    Rumsfeld. It really means a lot to hear
    your thoughts and your concerns and your suggestions about the way
    forward in Iraq. We've had our disagreements in this country about
    whether or not we should be there in the first place. Now the
    fundamental question is, how do we achieve our objectives, which is a
    democracy which can defend itself, sustain itself, a country which is an
    ally in the war on terror, and a country which serves as a powerful
    example for others who desire to be free.
        Since we last met, there has--a unity government is now in the
    process of becoming formed. I've got great hopes about this unity
    Government. We've got a Shi'a as the Prime Minister-designee, a Sunni as the Speaker, a Kurd as the President, all of
    whom have dedicated themselves to a country moving forward that meets
    the hopes and aspirations of the Iraqi people.
        There are certainly challenges, and the Secretaries here discussed
    those challenges with us. Perhaps the main challenge is the militia that
    tend to take the law into their own hands. And it's going to be up for
    the Government to step up and take care of that militia so that the
    Iraqi people are confident in the security of their country. It's
    important to have a secure Iraq in order for people to go about their
    daily lives. And we understand that.
        I also assured the Secretaries here that this Government is
    committed to success. They've got good people on the ground. We've got
    brave troops that are working every day to help this country succeed
    and, at the same time, deny safe haven to Al Qaida.
        And again, I want to thank the members for coming--the former
    Secretaries for coming. I think it's very useful for those of us who are
    helping to plot the strategies and the tactics to help secure this
    country, to hear from you. I'm optimistic about our successes. I know
    this: The only way we will not succeed is if we lose our nerve, we don't
    have faith in our values, and that we're constantly changing tactics on
    the ground to achieve our objectives.
        So thank you for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:30 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister-designate
    Nuri al-Maliki, Speaker of the Parliament Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, and
    President Jalal Talabani of Iraq. Participating in the meeting were
    former Secretaries of State Colin L. Powell, Madeleine K. Albright,
    Warren Christopher, James A. Baker III, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.; and
    former Secretaries of Defense William S. Cohen, Frank C. Carlucci, James
    R. Schlesinger, Melvin R. Laird, and Robert S. McNamara.