    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 12 (Monday, March 26, 2007)]
    [Page 365]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Meeting With Leaders of Provincial Reconstruction
    Teams in Iraq

    March 22, 2007

        I just had a remarkable visit with some remarkable citizens. I want
    to thank them--Secretary Rice and Secretary England and other members of
    my administration--for being here to listen to State Department folks,
    USAID folks, and military folks talk about why they volunteered to go
    help Iraq succeed.
        We have a remarkable country, and we have people from different
    walks of life, different levels of experience make the decision to serve
    America by helping a young democracy survive. They understand what I
    understand, and that is, success in Iraq is important for the security
    of the United States. And my first mission was to thank them and their
    families. The country owes you a debt of gratitude.
        And the Congress owes you the money you need to do the job, without
    any strings attached. In the recent--in the bill that's now being
    debated, there is money to help you do your jobs, in that bill. And
    Congress needs to get that bill out as quickly as possible, without a
    lot of extra spending and without a lot of strings to it.
        There is money in that bill to make sure our military is funded. And
    I believe it's important for our commanders on the ground to have the
    flexibility necessary to make decisions to succeed. We don't want you to
    go into Iraq and then have unnecessary strings placed upon the money so
    you can't do your job. Congress needs to get their business done
    quickly, get the monies we requested funded, and let our folks on the
    ground do the job.
        Secondly, Secretary Rice is headed to the Middle East. Peace in the
    Middle East is a priority for this administration. She's going to
    continue our efforts to involve all parties--the Palestinians, the
    Israelis, Arabs--to work for a solution that will lead to peace, and
    that is a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and
    security.
        I have been on the phone to some of my counterparts in the Middle
    East, reminding them that I have a strong commitment to this vision, as
    does the Secretary. This will be hard work. It's not easy to get all
    parties headed in the right direction, but it's necessary work for this
    country. And it's necessary for our Secretary of State, with my strong
    approval, to be moving the process forward. And that's what she'll be
    doing.
        Madam Secretary, I wish you all the best on your trip, and I thank
    you very much for your service.
        In the meantime, thank you all. Please give your families all the
    thanks in the world. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:15 a.m. in Room 350 of the Dwight D.
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building.