[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 17 (Monday, May 1, 2006)]
[Pages 761-762]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the California Highway Patrol Academy in Sacramento, 
California

April 22, 2006

Iraq

    Today the Iraqi people reached an important milestone in their 
journey on democracy. Iraqi leaders announced agreement on the top 
leadership posts for a national unity government. This agreement 
represents compromise and consensus among many different Iraqi groups, 
and it came after months of patient negotiations.
    The agreement reflects the will of the Iraqi people, who defied the 
terrorists by voting to choose the men and women who will lead their 
nation forward. And this historic achievement by determined Iraqis will 
make America more secure.
    Iraq is a nation made up of many different ethnic and religious 
groups, and Iraq's new leaders represent their country's great 
diversity. The Iraqi people have rejected the terrorists' efforts to 
divide them, and they have chosen the path of unity for their free 
nation.
    The new Iraqi leadership now has 30 days to finalize the makeup of 
the Iraqi Cabinet.

[[Page 762]]

Once inaugurated, the new Government will hold power for up to 4 years. 
Unlike the Interim and Transitional Governments that came before, the 
new Iraqi Government will have full constitutional authority. And 
because it expresses the will of 12 million Iraqis who went to the polls 
last December, it will have the popular mandate to address Iraq's 
toughest long-term challenges.
    Iraq's new leaders have important responsibilities to the people who 
chose them. The new Government has a responsibility to deploy the 
growing strength of the Iraqi security forces to defeat the terrorists 
and insurgents and establish control over the militias. The Government 
has the responsibility to rebuild infrastructure that makes commerce 
possible and that supports the education and health needs of the Iraqi 
people. The Government must strengthen the economy and encourage job 
creation and enforce the rule of law. The new Government must ensure 
that improvements in prosperity and security occur throughout the 
country so that all Iraqis share in the benefits of their new democracy.
    These are major challenges, and the new Iraqi Government will not 
face them alone. America is helping Iraq's young democracy move forward. 
Iraqis and Americans are fighting side by side against a common enemy. 
We're going to defeat the terrorists in Iraq. We will deny them safe 
haven. And a free Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will be a 
powerful blow to the terrorists and a beacon of liberty for people 
across that region.
    Formation of a new Iraqi Government is an opportunity for America to 
open a new chapter in our partnership with the Iraqi people. The United 
States and our coalition partners will work with the new Iraqi 
Government to reassess our tactics, adjust our methods, and strengthen 
our mutual efforts to achieve victory in this central front in the war 
on terror.
    The new Iraqi Government will assume growing responsibility for 
their nation's security. And as more Iraqi forces stand up, American 
forces will stand down. I want to thank all the brave Americans, both in 
our military and the diplomatic corps, who have served the cause of 
freedom in Iraq over the past 3 years. I thank their families who have 
sacrificed time with loved ones serving far from home. I want to thank 
our wounded service men and women, who have given so much to make this 
moment possible. And our Nation remembers the fallen heroes who gave 
their lives to bring liberty to Iraq and security to America. And we 
will honor their sacrifice by completing this mission.
    There's going to be more tough fighting ahead in Iraq, and there 
will be more days of sacrifice and struggle. Yet the enemies of freedom 
have suffered a real blow today. And we've taken a great stride on the 
march to victory. The Iraqi people have defied the terrorist threats; 
Iraqi soldiers and police have fought with valor for the freedom of 
their country; and Iraqi leaders have laid the foundations for a 
democratic government of, by, and for the Iraqi people.
    On behalf of all Americans, I congratulate the Iraqi people and 
their new leaders. The Iraqis are showing the world that democracy is 
worth the wait, that liberty is worth the sacrifice, and that freedom is 
the future of every man, woman, and child on this Earth.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m.