[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
[June 13, 2006]
[Pages 1119-1120]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq
June 13, 2006

    Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for this opportunity to visit with 
your Cabinet. I have expressed our country's desire to work with you, 
but I appreciate you recognizing the fact that the future of this 
country is in your hands. The decisions you and your Cabinet make will 
be determinate as to whether or not a country succeeds that can govern 
itself, sustain itself, and defend itself. I'm impressed by the Cabinet 
that you've assembled. You've assembled people from all parts of your 
country, representing the different religions and different histories 
and traditions.
    And yet the Cabinet here represents the entire Iraqi people, and I 
appreciate your

[[Page 1120]]

commitment to representing the people of Iraq. I'm impressed by the 
strength of your character and your desire to succeed. And I'm impressed 
by your strategy. We've discussed--I discussed earlier with the Prime 
Minister and here with his Cabinet and with members of my Cabinet the 
strategy necessary to have a country that is capable of answering to the 
needs of the people.
    We discussed the security strategy. We discussed an economic 
strategy, a reconstruction strategy. And all of it makes sense to me. 
And so I've come to not only look you in the eye, I've also come to tell 
you that when America gives its word, it will keep its word; that it's 
in our interests that Iraq succeed. It's not only in the interests of 
the Iraqi people, it's in the interests of the American people and for 
people who love freedom.
    Iraq is a part of the war on terror. Iraq is a central front on that 
war, and when Iraq succeeds in having a government of and by and for the 
people of Iraq, you will have dealt a serious blow to those who have a 
vision of darkness, who don't believe in liberty, who are willing to 
kill the innocent in order to achieve a political objective.
    And so, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for giving me and my 
Cabinet a chance to hear from you personally and a chance to meet the 
members of this team you've assembled. It's an impressive group of men 
and women, and if given the right help, I'm convinced you will succeed, 
and so will the world.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 6:36 p.m. at the U.S. 
Embassy.