[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 40 (Monday, October 10, 2005)]
[Pages 1501-1502]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld

October 5, 2005

    The President. I just had a briefing from Secretary Rumsfeld and 
General Pace on our ongoing operations in the western part of Iraq. As 
you know, we're on the offense against insurgents and terrorists. We 
fully understand they intend to disrupt the constitutional process, or 
will try to do so, as well as stop the progress of democracy. And part 
of the way the Pentagon and the folks on the ground are going to deal 
with it is to stay on the offense, and that's what's taking place.
    I was also pleased to hear there are 3,000 Iraqi forces in the 
fight, that they're doing a fine job out there, that they're--they make 
a difference on the battlefield.
    We also have General Petraeus with us, who has served incredibly 
well in Iraq. His job was to help U.S. forces and coalition forces train 
the Iraqis so they can take the fight to the enemy. He briefed me and 
will be briefing the country at the Pentagon here a little later on, 
about the strong progress that we're making, that we've recruited a lot 
of folks, but we've got more than just recruitment going on. We've got a 
quality control program in place to make sure that the troops we train 
are capable of taking the fight to the enemy. Over 30 percent of the 
Iraqi

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troops are in the lead on these offensive operations. We've got troops 
embedded with them, and it's important for the training mission. But, 
nevertheless, the Iraqis are showing more and more capability to take 
the fight to the enemy. And that's how we're going to succeed in helping 
democracy become established in Iraq.
    I've told the American people all along, our troops will stay there 
as long as necessary. We'll do the job. We'll train these folks, and as 
they become more capable, we will be able to bring folks home with the 
honor they've earned.
    And we're seeing progress on the ground, and we're also seeing 
political progress on the ground. The constitution has been written. 
Folks will have a chance to vote it up or down here this month. And then 
there will be elections, if the constitution is approved, for a 
permanent government.
    So on the one hand, we're making progress when it comes to training 
Iraqis to take the fight to the enemy. We're bringing the enemy to 
justice. We're on the offense. On the other hand, democracy is moving 
forward in a part of the world that is so desperate for democracy and so 
desperate for freedom.
    And so, General, I want to thank you for your service--General 
Petraeus.
    Lt. Gen. Petraeus. Thank you, sir.
    The President. Thank you for your service too. But thank you for 
your service. You've done a fine job.
    Lt. Gen. Petraeus. Thank you, sir.
    The President. I'm proud of you. Thank you all very much.

Note: The President spoke at 10:43 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. Peter Pace, USMC, Chairman, 
Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, former 
commander, Multi-National Security Transition Command--Iraq.