[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 50 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Pages 1520-1523]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Signing Ceremony for the Strategic Framework Agreement and 
the Status of Forces Agreement and an Exchange With Reporters in Baghdad

December 14, 2008

    Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq. In the name of God the 
Merciful and Compassionate. I would like to welcome the President of the 
United States, President George W. Bush. I would like to welcome you 
here as a guest of Iraq. You have stood by Iraq and the Iraqi people for 
a very long time, starting with the--getting rid of the dictatorship, to 
fight--helping the Iraqis to fight terrorism.
    Your visit today to Iraq, Mr. President, comes after the signing of 
the agreement between the two countries, which represents the solid 
foundation and draws a roadmap that will govern and guide the 
relationship between the two states.
    I believe that Iraq, we have performed and have done great work in a 
cooperative and integrated way in fighting terror. We have succeeded in 
Iraq, and we hope that efforts also around the world will succeed in 
defeating terrorism.
    Today, Iraq is moving forward in every field. Through the new Iraqi 
political system, we are working very hard through this, as well as 
developing the Iraqi economy, and reconstruction of Iraq. We are doing 
all of this in order for Iraq to restore its rightful place among 
nations and among the world, and away from the previous reckless 
policies

[[Page 1521]]

that focused on wars with the previous regime.
    The various political institutions have taken a very strong 
leadership positions, and the agreement was ratified, was approved by 
our political system, our Parliament, and various institutions of the 
Iraqi Government. They have approved and ratified the SOFA agreement and 
the withdrawal of American forces. We believe that these efforts 
culminated the height of real understanding and cooperation and 
friendship between Iraq and the United States. Now remains the part of 
implementing such an agreement. Now we are in the process of forming the 
proper committees that will carry out all elements of the various two 
agreements that were signed, and I'm referring to the various fields, 
military, scientific, educational, commerce, as well as economic fields.
    President Bush, you have played a very supportive role in achieving 
and concluding this agreement. And prior to the actual date of starting 
to implement this agreement, January 1st, '09, we already start working 
through the United Nations Security Council. We are in the process of 
drafting a resolution that will make it very clear that Iraq no longer 
represents a threat to world peace and security. And also a resolution 
that will set the basis for the protection of Iraqi financial 
capabilities and bring Iraq back to its rightful place among world 
communities.
    Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you, 
Mr. President. Once again, I wish you a very joyful stay here in Baghdad 
and a safe trip back home.
    President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your kind 
invitation and your hospitality. I also want to thank the Presidency 
Council for their hospitality as well. And I'm looking forward to some 
food. [Laughter]
    I am also looking forward to signing the joint statement here 
affirming two landmark agreements that solidify Iraq's democratic gains, 
that recognize Iraq's sovereignty, and that puts the relations between 
our two countries on a solid footing today and a solid footing tomorrow. 
They cement a strategic partnership between our two countries, and they 
pave the way for American forces to return home, as the war in Iraq 
approaches a successful end.
    The strategic framework agreement formalizes a relationship, as it 
says in the agreement--formalizes a relationship of friendship and 
cooperation between our two countries' economic, diplomatic, cultural, 
and security fields. Under this agreement, we will work together to 
bring greater stability to Iraq and the region, as well as promote trade 
and investment between our nations. We will work to strengthen 
democratic institutions.
    I'm sure you can remember what life was 2 years ago. When we were 
working together during that period such an agreement seemed 
unimaginable. Chaos and violence were consuming Iraq. The terrorists 
were seizing new ground, and the Iraqi people were beginning to divide 
the Iraqi people along sectarian lines. But you were determined, and I 
was determined, to do something differently, not to allow Iraq to fall 
into civil war.
    And our plan is working. You notice I say ``our plan.'' Today, 
violence is down dramatically. Al Qaida is driven from its safe havens. 
Sunnis, Shi'a, and Kurds are sitting together at the same table to 
part--to peacefully chart a--the future of this country. There is hope 
in the eyes of Iraqis' young. This is a future of what we've been 
fighting for: a strong and capable democratic Iraq that will be a force 
of freedom and a force for peace in the heart of the Middle East; a 
country that will serve as a source for stability in a volatile region; 
a country that will deny a safe haven to Al Qaida. As a result of these 
successes, Mr. Prime Minister, the American people are safer.
    We're also signing a security agreement. The agreement provides 
American troops and Defense Department officials with authorizations and 
protections to continue supporting Iraq's democracy once the U.N. 
mandate expires at the end of this year. This agreement respects the 
sovereignty and the authority of Iraq's democracy. The agreement lays 
out a framework for the withdrawal of American forces in Iraq, a 
withdrawal that is possible because of the success of the surge.
    These agreements result from careful consultations with the Prime 
Minister and the

[[Page 1522]]

officials of Iraq, as well as our diplomats and our military commanders. 
They represent a shared vision on the way forward in Iraq.

    The American people have sacrificed a great deal to reach this 
moment. The battle in Iraq has required a great amount of time and 
resources. Thousands of our finest citizens have given their lives to 
make our country safer and to bring us to this new day.

    We also praise the thousands of the coalition forces that came and 
the sacrifices that those countries have made. And the Iraqi people have 
sacrificed a lot. They've suffered car bombings and suicide attacks and 
IEDs, and desperate efforts by terrorists to destroy a young democracy. 
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have stepped forward to defend this 
democracy, and many have paid a dear price.

    With these agreements, Mr. Prime Minister, we're honoring the 
sacrifices that I just described in the best possible way, by building a 
freer and safer and more hopeful world. By signing these agreements 
we're showing the people of Iraq the United States of America keeps its 
word. And we are showing the people of the Middle East that America 
stands firmly for liberty and justice and peace. And we are leaving the 
next President with a stable foundation for the future and an approach 
that can enjoy broad bipartisan support at home.

    There is still more work to be done. The war is not over, but with 
the conclusion of these agreements and the courage of the Iraqi people 
and the Iraqi troops and American troops and civilian personnel, it is 
decisively on its way to being won.

    Shukran jazeelan.

 [At this point, Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi shouted in Arabic 
and threw his shoes at President Bush.]

    President Bush. All I can report is that it was a size 10. 
[Laughter] Yes. Okay, everybody calm down for a minute. First of all, 
thank you for apologizing on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn't 
bother me. And if you want some--if you want the facts, it's a size 10 
shoe. [Laughter] Thank you for your concerns; do not worry about it.

U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Iraq/Status of Forces Agreement

    Q. A question, Mr. Prime Minister and others, you all talked about 
the various gains that will come as a result of signing this agreement. 
But just quickly, I have one question about the withdrawal of American 
forces. Is this going to be an accelerated process that will happen 
quickly and perhaps prematurely?
    President Bush. First of all, we're here at the request of the Iraqi 
Government, an elected government. There are certain benchmarks that 
will be met, such as troops out of the cities by June of '09. And then 
there's a benchmark at the end of the agreement.
    As to the pace of meeting those agreements, that will depend of 
course upon the Iraqi Government, the recommendations of the Iraqi 
military, and the close coordination between General Odierno and our 
military.
    Look, these are very important agreements, and the Government of 
Iraq worked very hard to get them through the Parliament. You want--
okay.
    Jennifer [Jennifer Loven, Associated Press].

Audience Disruption/Strategic Framework Agreement/Status of Forces 
Agreement

    Q. Sir, a man just threw his shoes at you----
    President Bush. The what?
    Q. Sir, a man just threw his shoes at you, and it appears that there 
are terrible roadside bombings----
    President Bush. So what if a guy threw a shoe at me?
    Q. But you are also here to talk about progress and to mark progress 
with an agreement like this. And the kind of security gains you talked 
about. Do you consider this a victory lap?
    President Bush. Right. No, I consider it a important step in--on the 
road toward an Iraq that can sustain itself, govern itself, and defend 
itself.
    But let me talk about the guy throwing the shoe. It is one way to 
grab--gain attention. It's like going to a political rally and having 
people yell at you. It's like driving

[[Page 1523]]

down the street and have people not gesturing with all five fingers. 
It's a way for people to draw, you know, attention; I don't know what 
the guy's cause is. But one thing is for certain: He caused you to ask 
me a question about it. I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it. 
These journalists here were very apologetic; they were--said, ``This 
doesn't represent the Iraqi people.'' But that's what happens in free 
societies, where people try to draw attention to themselves. And so I 
guess he was effective, because he caused you to say something about it.
    Now, in terms of the agreements, this is a major achievement. Is it 
the end? Absolutely not. There is more work to be done. And all this 
basically says is we made good progress, and we'll continue to work 
together to achieve peace. That's what we want: freedom and peace. And 
so, no, I'm honored to be back here. It's my fourth visit to Iraq and--
as a sitting President, and I have been looking forward to this visit. 
It's very kind of you, Mr. Prime Minister, to have invited me here.

Note: The President spoke at 8:03 p.m. at the Prime Minister's Palace. 
In his remarks, he referred to Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, USA, 
commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq; and President-elect 
Barack Obama. Prime Minister Maliki and a reporter spoke in Arabic, and 
their remarks were translated by an interpreter. The Office of the Press 
Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.