    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 24 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
    [Pages 1122-1123]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq
    in Baghdad, Iraq

    June 13, 2006

        Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for this opportunity to visit with
    your Cabinet. I have expressed our country's desire to work with you,
    but I appreciate you recognizing the fact that the future of this
    country is in your hands. The decisions you and your Cabinet make will
    be determinate as to whether or not a country succeeds that can govern
    itself, sustain itself, and defend itself. I'm impressed by the Cabinet
    that you've assembled. You've assembled people from all parts of your
    country, representing the different religions and the different
    histories and traditions.
        And yet the Cabinet here represents the entire Iraqi people, and I
    appreciate your commitment to representing the people of Iraq. I'm
    impressed by the strength of your character and your desire to succeed.
    And I'm impressed by your strategy. We've discussed--I discussed earlier
    with the Prime Minister and here with his Cabinet and with members of my
    Cabinet the strategy necessary to have a country that is capable of
    answering to the needs of the people.
        We discussed the security strategy. We discussed an economic
    strategy, a reconstruction strategy. And all of it makes sense to me.
    And so I've come to not only look you in the eye, I've also come to tell
    you that when America gives its word, it will keep its word; that it's
    in our interests that Iraq succeed. It's not only in the interests of
    the Iraqi people; it's in the interests of the American people and for
    people who love freedom.
        Iraq is a part of the war on terror. Iraq is a central front on that
    war, and when Iraq succeeds in having a government of and by and for the
    people of Iraq, you will have dealt a serious blow to those who have a
    vision of darkness, who don't believe in liberty, who

    [[Page 1123]]

    are willing to kill the innocent in order to achieve a political
    objective.
        And so, Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for giving me and my
    Cabinet a chance to hear from you personally and a chance to meet the
    members of this team you've assembled. It's an impressive group of men
    and women, and if given the right help, I'm convinced you will succeed,
    and so will the world.

    Note: The President spoke at approximately 6:36 p.m. at the U.S.
    Embassy. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.