[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 7 (Monday, February 19, 2007)]
[Pages 175-176]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With United States Ambassador-Designate to 
Iraq Ryan C. Crocker

February 16, 2007

    The President. I just had a lengthy conversation with our nominee to 
be the Ambassador from the United States to Iraq. I've gotten to know 
Ambassador Ryan Crocker during my time as President because he's been--
fulfilled a very important mission for the United States, and that is 
the Ambassador to Pakistan, where he served ably and served well. And 
I'm confident I picked the right man to be our new Ambassador in Iraq.
    The Ambassador will follow General David Petraeus into Iraq. So now 
we've got a new military commander and a new head of our diplomatic 
mission there. These are two competent individuals who will help us 
implement our new strategy in the country of Iraq. And that new strategy 
has said that we're going to help this young Iraqi Government be able to 
sustain itself and defend itself by enforcing security in the capital 
city.
    I was telling the Ambassador that I had a visit today with Prime 
Minister Maliki via secure SVTS. I was pleased that he's meeting 
benchmarks that he had set out for his Government. One of the benchmarks 
was to move Iraqi troops into the city of Baghdad--troops that will be 
complemented by our own troops. He is meeting those obligations. A 
second such benchmark is that he would change the rules of engagement so 
that criminals, regardless of their religion, would be brought to 
justice in equal fashion. He is meeting that benchmark. Thirdly, he 
passed a budget, of which $10 billion is available for reconstruction. 
He said he would do that; the budget has been passed; he has met that 
benchmark. And that's good news for the Iraqi people, and it should give 
people here in the United States confidence that this Government knows 
its responsibilities and is following through on those responsibilities.

    And so the Ambassador heads into a really important assignment, 
carrying a message of hope to the Iraqi people that the United States 
wants them to succeed, and a message of urgency to the Iraqi Government 
that our patience is not unlimited and that we expect that Government to 
perform. And as I said, I was able to tell the Prime Minister how much--
how closely we're watching, that we've got a good, new man coming as 
Ambassador, and that we appreciate the fact that he's beginning to meet 
the benchmarks that he set out for his people.

    Mr. Ambassador, Godspeed, and thank you.

    Ambassador-designate Crocker. Thank you, sir. Pleased to have your 
confidence.

    The President. Thank you.

    By the way, we're looking forward to quick Senate confirmation. He's 
had his hearing. And of course, when I call him ``Ambassador,'' it's not 
Ambassador to Iraq--it's Ambassador-designee to Iraq--but Ambassador now 
in Pakistan. And the Senate needs to confirm him as quickly as possible 
so he can join General Petraeus and do the job.

    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 1:43 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, 
commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq; and Prime Minister Nuri 
al-Maliki of Iraq.

[[Page 176]]