[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 30 (Monday, August 4, 2008)]
[Pages 1080-1081]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the War on Terror

July 31, 2008

    Good morning. This has been a month of encouraging news from Iraq. 
Violence is down to its lowest level since the spring of 2004, and we're 
now in our third consecutive month with reduced violence levels holding 
steady. General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker caution that the 
progress is still reversible, but they report that there now appears to 
be a degree of durability to the gains that we have made.
    A significant reason for this sustained progress is the success of 
the surge. Another is the increasing capability of the Iraqi forces. 
Iraqi forces now have 192 combat battalions in the fight, and more than 
110 of these battalions are taking the lead in combat operations against 
terrorists and extremists.
    We saw the capability of those forces earlier this year, when the 
Iraqi Government launched successful military operations against Shi'a 
extremist groups in Basra, Amarah, and the Sadr City area of Baghdad. 
Because of these operations, extremists who once terrorized the citizens 
of these communities have been driven from their strongholds. As a 
result, our Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, was able to walk the 
streets of Sadr City last Wednesday. That's something that would not 
have been possible just a few months ago.
    This week, the Iraqi Government is launching a new offensive in 
parts of the Diyala Province that contain some of Al Qaida's few 
remaining safe havens in the country. This operation is Iraqi-led; our 
forces are playing a supporting role. And in the moments--in the months 
ahead, the Iraqis will continue taking the lead in more military 
operations across the country.
    As security in Iraq has improved, the Iraqi Government has made 
political progress as well. The Iraqi Council of Representatives has 
passed several major pieces of legislation this year, and Iraqi leaders 
are preparing for Provincial elections. Prime Minister Maliki recently 
returned from a successful visit to Europe, where he held important 
diplomatic discussions with Chancellor Merkel, Prime Minister 
Berlusconi, and His Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.
    The progress in Iraq has allowed us to continue our policy of return 
on success. We now have brought home all five of the combat brigades and 
the three Marine units that were sent to Iraq as part of the surge. The 
last of these surge brigades returned home this month. And later this 
year, General Petraeus will present me his recommendations on future 
troop levels, including further reductions in our combat forces as 
conditions permit.
    As part of the return on success policy, we are also reducing the 
length of combat tours in Iraq. Beginning tomorrow, troops deploying to 
Iraq will serve 12-month tours instead of 15-month tours. This will ease 
the burden on our forces, and it will make life easier for our wonderful 
military families.
    We're also making progress in our discussion with Prime Minister 
Maliki's Government on the--a strategic framework agreement. This 
agreement will serve as the foundation for America's presence in Iraq 
once the United Nations resolution authorizing the multi-national forces 
there expires on December the 31st.
    We remain a nation at war. Al Qaida is on the run in Iraq, but the 
terrorists remain dangerous, and they are determined to strike our 
country and our allies again. In this time of war, America is grateful 
to all the men and women who have stepped forward to defend us. They 
understand that we have no greater responsibility than to stop the 
terrorists before they launch yet another attack on our homeland. Every 
day they make great sacrifices to keep the American people safe here at 
home. We owe our thanks to all those who wear the uniform and their 
families who

[[Page 1081]]

support them in their vital work. And the best way to honor them is to 
support their mission and bring them home with victory.
    Thank you very much.

Note: The President spoke at 8:04 a.m. on the Colonnade at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, 
commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq; Prime Minister Nuri al-
Maliki of Iraq; Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany; Prime Minister 
Silvio Berlusconi of Italy; and Pope Benedict XVI. The Office of the 
Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these 
remarks.