[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.