[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 49 (Monday, December 15, 2008)]
[Pages 1492-1493]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

December 6, 2008

    Good morning. This weekend I'm attending the Army-Navy game in 
Philadelphia, and I'm looking forward to a great day of college 
football. But more importantly, I'm looking forward to spending time 
with the brave men and women of the United States military.
    Throughout the past 8 years, I've seen the tremendous talent and 
courage of those who wear the uniform. Their efforts have overthrown 
tyrants, made our Nation safer, put terrorists on the run, and opened 
the door to liberty for more than 50 million people. And now, thanks to 
their work in Iraq and the courage of the Iraqi people, a hopeful new 
era is dawning for their democracy and ours.
    Earlier this week, Iraq's Presidency Council approved two landmark 
agreements that will solidify Iraq's democratic gains, affirm its 
sovereignty, and put its relations with the United States on a strong 
and steady footing.
    The first agreement that America and Iraq have signed is called a 
strategic framework agreement. This pact sets out a common vision for 
U.S.-Iraqi relations in the years ahead. Under this agreement, we will 
work together to bring greater stability to Iraq and the region. We'll 
promote trade and investment between our nations. And we will support 
Iraq's leaders and their citizens as they strengthen their democratic 
institutions.
    Only a few years ago, such an agreement was unimaginable. Chaos and 
violence were consuming Iraq. Terrorists were seizing new ground and 
using violence to divide the Iraqi people along sectarian lines. And the 
nation was nearing the point of political collapse and civil war.
    Today, violence is down dramatically. Our forces have struck 
powerful blows against Al Qaida. The Iraqi military is growing in 
capability, taking the lead in the fight against the extremists, and 
working across sectarian lines. Sunni, Shi'a, and Kurdish leaders are 
sitting together at the same table to peacefully resolve their 
differences and chart their country's future. And there is hope in the 
eyes of young Iraqis for the first time in many years.
    The second agreement that America and Iraq have signed is a security 
agreement, known as a status of forces agreement. One of the primary 
purposes of this agreement is to ensure protection for our troops and 
Defense Department civilians as the Iraqi Government begins to exercise 
greater sovereignty. Our military commanders have assured me that the 
agreement's provisions meet this purpose. At the same time, it also 
respects the authority of the Iraqi Government. And it lays out a 
framework for the withdrawal of American forces in Iraq, a withdrawal 
that is possible because of the success of the surge.
    This withdrawal will take place in two stages. The first stage will 
occur next year, when Iraqi forces assume the lead for security 
operations in all major population centers, while U.S. combat forces 
move out of

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Iraqi cities and move into an overwatch role. After this transition has 
occurred, the drawdown of American forces will continue to the second 
stage, with all U.S. forces returning home from Iraq by the end of 2011.
    As we enter this new phase in America's relations with Iraq, we have 
an opportunity to adopt a new perspective here at home. There were 
legitimate differences of opinion about the initial decision to remove 
Saddam Hussein and the subsequent conduct of the war. But now the surge 
and the courage of brave Iraqis have turned the situation around. And 
Americans should be able to agree that it is in our Nation's strategic 
and moral interests to support the free and democratic Iraq that is 
emerging in the heart of the Middle East.
    The American people have sacrificed a great deal to reach this 
moment. The battle in Iraq has required a large amount of time and a 
large amount of money. Our men and women in uniform have carried out 
difficult and dangerous missions and endured long separations from 
friends and family. And thousands of our finest citizens have given 
their lives to make our country safer and bring us to this new day. The 
war in Iraq is not yet over. But thanks to these agreements and the 
courage of our men and women in Iraq, it is decisively on its way to 
being won.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 6:50 a.m. on December 5 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 6. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
December 5 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office 
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of 
this address.