[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 4 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[Page 74]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to a Meeting With the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Combatant 
Commanders

January 24, 2007

    It's my pleasure to welcome Secretary Gates, the Joint Chiefs, and 
the combatant commanders to the White House. First of all, it's an honor 
to be in the presence of such fine citizens, men who are doing their 
duty to protect this country. And we have no more solemn duty than to 
protect America in this war against extremists and radicals.
    I'm looking forward to our discussion about the theaters in which 
you are representing America. I'm looking forward to discussion about 
the new way forward in Iraq. I thank you for your service.
    I also call upon the Senate to move quickly to confirm Lieutenant 
General Petraeus as the commander of the Multi-National Forces--Iraq, 
Admiral Fallon as the commander of Central Command, and General Casey as 
the Army Chief of Staff. It is important to get these three fine 
individuals in their posts as soon as possible so that we have 
continuity as we do our duty to protect the American people.
    We'll have a good, wide-ranging discussion here, and then Laura and 
I have the high privilege of welcoming you and your spouses to dinner 
tonight. Welcome, and thank you for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 5:06 p.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of Defense Robert M. 
Gates; Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, commanding general, U.S. Army 
Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth; and Gen. George W. Casey, 
Jr., USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq.