    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 17 (Monday, April 30, 2007)]
    [Pages 509-510]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Meeting With Military Leaders and an Exchange With
    Reporters

    April 23, 2007

        The President. It's my high honor to welcome General David Petraeus
    back to the Oval Office, and I appreciate Deputy Secretary England and
    General Pace joining us. General Petraeus has taken on a very important
    assignment for the security of our country and for the peace of the
    world, and that is to help this young Iraqi democracy become stable,
    evolve into a country that can defend itself and govern itself and serve
    as an ally in this war against extremists and radicals who wish to do us
    harm.
        General Petraeus has been there for a brief period of time, on his
    second tour. About a little over half of the troops--around half of the
    troops he's requested have arrived on the scene. These troops are all
    aimed at helping the Iraqi Government find the breathing space necessary
    to do what the people want them to do, and that is to reconcile and move
    forward with a government of and by and for the Iraqi people. So,
    General Petraeus, we welcome you here.
        Gen. David H. Petraeus. Thank you.
        The President. It's a tough time there, as the General will tell the
    Congress. He's here not only to check in with me and other members of my
    team, but also, he'll be going up to the Hill, going up to the joint
    session of the Congress to brief the Members, both Republican and
    Democrat, about what's going right and what's not going right. He's a
    straightforward man who is implementing a very good plan to achieve our
    strategic objectives.
        As the General will tell the folks on Capitol Hill, there's been
    some progress. There's been some horrific bombings, of course. There's
    also a decline in sectarian violence. And I appreciate you coming, and I
    really thank you and your family for your service to our country.
        I'll answer a couple of questions. Deb [Deb Riechmann, Associated
    Press].

    Emergency Supplemental Appropriations

        Q. Mr. President, Senator Reid says you're in denial about Iraq and
    that Congress is going to pass a bill that includes a fair and
    reasonable timetable for withdrawal. Could you compromise? Could you
    accept anything that looks like that at all?
        The President. I believe strongly that politicians in Washington
    shouldn't be telling generals how to do their job, and I believe
    artificial timetables of withdrawal would be a mistake. A artificial
    timetable of withdrawal would say to an enemy, just wait them out. It
    would say to the Iraqis, don't do hard things necessary to achieve our
    objectives. And it would be discouraging for our troops. And therefore,
    I will strongly reject a artificial timetable withdrawal and/or
    Washington politicians trying to tell those who wear the uniform how to
    do their job.
        I will, of course, be willing to work with the Congress, both
    Republicans and Democrats, on a way forward. That's what I said during
    the Cabinet Room. But I also made it clear that no matter how tough it
    may look, that for the Congress to micromanage this process is a
    mistake.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales

        Q. The Attorney General is still getting a lot of criticism over the
    U.S. attorneys situation. Was his explanation sufficient, or is there
    more he needs to do to try to turn things around?
        The President. The Attorney General went up and gave a very candid
    assessment and answered every question he could possibly answer,
    honestly answer, in a way that increased my confidence in his ability to
    do the job.

    [[Page 510]]

        One of the things that's important for the American people to
    understand is that the Attorney General has a right to recommend to me
    to replace U.S. attorneys; U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the
    President. In other words, we have named them, and I have the right to
    replace them with somebody else. And as the investigation, the hearings
    went forward, it was clear that the Attorney General broke no law, did
    no wrongdoing. And some Senators didn't like his explanation, but he
    answered as honestly as he could. This is an honest, honorable man, in
    whom I have confidence.
        Thank you all for coming. General, it's good to have you here.
        Gen. Petraeus. Great to be here, Mr. President. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:44 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. Participating in the meeting were Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA,
    commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq; Deputy Secretary of
    Defense Gordon England; and Gen. Peter Pace, USMC, Chairman, Joint
    Chiefs of Staff.