[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
[March 19, 2007]
[Pages 324-326]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on the Fourth Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq
March 19, 2007

    Good morning. Four years ago today, coalition forces launched 
Operation Iraqi Freedom to remove Saddam Hussein from power. They did so 
to eliminate the threat his regime posed to the Middle East and to the 
world. Coalition forces carried out

[[Page 325]]

that mission with great courage and skill. Today, the world is rid of 
Saddam Hussein, and a tyrant has been held to account for his crimes by 
his own people.
    Nearly 12 million Iraqis have voted in free elections under a 
democratic Constitution that they wrote for themselves. And their 
democratic leaders are now working to build a free society that upholds 
the rule of law, that respects the rights of its people, that provides 
them security, and is an ally in the war on terror.
    At this point in the war, our most important mission is helping the 
Iraqis secure their capital. Until Baghdad's citizens feel secure in 
their own homes and neighborhoods, it will be difficult for Iraqis to 
make further progress toward political reconciliation or economic 
rebuilding, steps necessary for Iraq to build a democratic society.
    So with our help, Iraq's Government is carrying out an aggressive 
plan to secure Baghdad. And we're continuing to train the Iraqi security 
forces so that they ultimately take full responsibility for the security 
of their own people.
    I've just received an update on the situation from Iraqi Prime 
Minister Maliki. My conversation with the 
Prime Minister followed a briefing earlier this morning that included 
Secretary Rice and Secretary Gates, along with General Petraeus and Ambassador Khalilzad, who 
participated by video conference from Iraq.
    Prime Minister Maliki and General 
Petraeus emphasized that the Baghdad 
security plan is still in its early stages, and success will take 
months, not days or weeks. Yet those on the ground are seeing some 
hopeful signs. The Iraqi Government has completed the deployment of 
three Iraqi Army brigades to the capital, where they've joined the seven 
Iraqi Army brigades and nine National Police brigades that were already 
in the area.
    The Iraqi Government has also lifted restrictions that once 
prevented Iraqi and coalition forces from going into areas like Sadr 
City. American and Iraqi forces have established joint security 
stations. Those stations are scattered throughout Baghdad, and they're 
helping Iraqis reclaim their neighborhoods from the terrorists and 
extremists.
    Together, we've carried out aggressive operations against both Shi'a 
and Sunni extremists, carried out operations against Al Qaida 
terrorists. We've uncovered large caches of weapons and destroyed two 
major car bomb factories that were located on the outskirts of Baghdad.
    I want to stress that this operation is still in the early stages; 
it's still in the beginning stages. Fewer than half of the troop 
reinforcements we are sending have arrived in Baghdad. The new strategy 
will need more time to take effect. And there will be good days, and 
there will be bad days ahead as it--as the security plan unfolds.
    As we help the Iraqis secure their capital, their leaders are also 
beginning to meet the benchmarks they have laid out for political 
reconciliation. Last month, Iraq's Council of Ministers approved a law 
that would share oil revenues among Iraqi people. The Iraqi legislature 
passed a $41 billion budget that includes $10 billion for reconstruction 
and capital improvements. And last week, Prime Minister Maliki visited Ramadi, a city in the Sunni heartland, to 
reach out to local Sunni tribal leaders.
    There's been good progress. There's a lot more work to be done. And 
Iraq's leaders must continue to work to meet the benchmarks they have 
set forward.
    As Iraqis work to keep their commitments, we have important 
commitments of our own. Members of Congress are now considering an 
emergency war spending bill. They have a responsibility to ensure that 
this bill provides the funds and the flexibility that our troops need to 
accomplish their mission. They have a responsibility to pass a clean 
bill that does not use funding for our troops as leverage to get special 
interest spending for their districts. And they have a responsibility to 
get

[[Page 326]]

this bill to my desk, without strings and without delay.
    It can be tempting to look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude 
our best option is to pack up and go home. That may be satisfying in the 
short run, but I believe the consequences for American security would be 
devastating. If American forces were to step back from Baghdad before it 
is more secure, a contagion of violence could spill out across the 
entire country. In time, this violence could engulf the region. The 
terrorists could emerge from the chaos with a safe haven in Iraq to 
replace the one they had in Afghanistan, which they used to plan the 
attacks of September the 11th, 2001. For the safety of the American 
people, we cannot allow this to happen.
    Prevailing in Iraq is not going to be easy. General 
Petraeus says that the environment in Iraq 
is the most challenging that he has seen in his more than 32 years of 
service. He also says that he has been impressed by the professionalism 
and the skill and determination of our men and women in uniform. He sees 
in our troops, quote, ``a true will to win and a sincere desire to help 
our Iraqi partners achieve success.''
    Four years after this war began, the fight is difficult, but it can 
be won. It will be won if we have the courage and resolve to see it 
through. I'm grateful to our service men and women for all they've done 
and for the honor they've brought to their uniform and their country. 
I'm grateful to our military families and for all the sacrifices they 
have made for our country. We also hold in our hearts the good men and 
women who've given their lives in this struggle. We pray for the loved 
ones they have left behind.
    The United States military is the most capable and courageous 
fighting force in the world. And whatever our differences in Washington, 
our troops and their families deserve the appreciation and the support 
of our entire Nation.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:30 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of Defense Robert 
M. Gates; and Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, commanding general, Multi-
National Force--Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a 
Spanish language transcript of these remarks.