    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [March 22, 2007]
    [Pages 339-340]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Leaders of Provincial Reconstruction
    Teams in Iraq
    March 22, 2007

        I just had a remarkable visit with some remarkable citizens. I want
    to thank them--Secretary Rice and Secretary
    England and other members of my
    administration--for being here to listen to State Department folks,
    USAID folks, and military folks talk about why they volunteered to go
    help Iraq succeed.
        We have a remarkable country, and we have people from different
    walks of life, different levels of experience make the decision to serve
    America by helping a young democracy survive. They understand what I
    understand, and that is, success in Iraq is important for the security
    of the United States. And my first mission was to thank them and their
    families. The country owes you a debt of gratitude.
        And the Congress owes you the money you need to do the job, without
    any strings

    [[Page 340]]

    attached. In the recent--in the bill that's now being debated, there is
    money to help you do your jobs, in that bill. And Congress needs to get
    that bill out as quickly as possible, without a lot of extra spending
    and without a lot of strings to it.
        There is money in that bill to make sure our military is funded. And
    I believe it's important for our commanders on the ground to have the
    flexibility necessary to make decisions to succeed. We don't want you to
    go into Iraq and then have unnecessary strings placed upon the money so
    you can't do your job. Congress needs to get their business done
    quickly, get the monies we requested funded, and let our folks on the
    ground do the job.
        Secondly, Secretary Rice is headed to
    the Middle East. Peace in the Middle East is a priority for this
    administration. She's going to continue our efforts to involve all
    parties--the Palestinians, the Israelis, Arabs--to work for a solution
    that will lead to peace, and that is a Palestinian state living side by
    side with Israel in peace and security.
        I have been on the phone to some of my counterparts in the Middle
    East, reminding them that I have a strong commitment to this vision, as
    does the Secretary. This will be hard work.
    It's not easy to get all parties headed in the right direction, but it's
    necessary work for this country. And it's necessary for our Secretary of
    State, with my strong approval, to be moving the process forward. And
    that's what she'll be doing.
        Madam Secretary, I wish you all the
    best on your trip, and I thank you very much for your service.
        In the meantime, thank you all. Please give your families all the
    thanks in the world. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. in Room 350 of the Dwight D.
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building.