    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [December 2, 2006]
    [Pages 2145-2146]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    December 2, 2006

        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 6 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.
        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.
        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.

    [[Page 2146]]

        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.
        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.
        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.
        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.
        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.

    Note: The address was recorded at approximately 7:50 a.m. on December 1
    in the Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on
    December 2. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on December 1 but was embargoed for release until the
    broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of this address.