    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [December 28, 2006]
    [Pages 2225-2226]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With the National Security Council in
    Crawford
    December 28, 2006

        I just had a meeting with my national security team, and this is the
    first time we've had a chance to sit down with Secretary Gates since he came back from Iraq. General Pace went with the Secretary. They reported firsthand what
    they saw, what they found. It's an important part of coming to closure
    on a way forward in Iraq that will help us achieve our objective, which
    is a country that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself.
    And, Mr. Secretary, thank you for your timely trip, and thank you for
    this important briefing.
        I've got more consultation to do until I talk to the country about
    the plan. Obviously, we'll continue to work with the Iraqi Government.
    The key to success in Iraq is to have a government that's willing to
    deal with the elements there that are trying to prevent this young
    democracy from succeeding.
        We want to help them succeed. And so we'll continue to consult with
    the Iraqis. I'm going to talk to Congress; not only will I continue to
    reach out to Congress, but members of my team will do so as well. I
    fully understand it's important to have both Republicans and Democrats
    understanding the importance of this mission. It's important for the
    American people to understand success in Iraq is vital for our own
    security. If we were to not succeed in Iraq, the enemy--the extremists,
    the radicals--would have safe haven from which to launch further
    attacks, they would be emboldened, they would be in a position to
    threaten the United States of America. This is an important part of the
    war on terror.
        I'm making good progress toward coming up with a plan that we think
    will help us achieve our objective. As I think about this plan, I'm
    always--have our troops in mind. There's nobody more important in this
    global war on terror than the men and women who wear the uniform and
    their families. And as we head into a new year, my thoughts are with
    them. My thoughts are with the families who have just gone through a
    holiday season with their loved one overseas. My thoughts are with the
    troops as we head into 2007.

    [[Page 2226]]

        People always ask me about a New Year's resolution; my resolution
    is, is that they'll be safe and that we'll come closer to our objective,
    that we'll be able to help this young democracy survive and thrive, and
    therefore, we'll be writing a chapter of peace. I can't thank our
    families enough for supporting their loved one who wears the uniform,
    and I can't thank those who--soldiers and sailors and airmen and Coast
    Guard men and women, folks in the Air Force--who represent the United
    States of America. May God continue to bless them.
        Thank you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:59 a.m. at the Bush Ranch. In his
    remarks, he referred to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates.