READING BETWEEN THE LINES

April 10, 2008

President Bush Discusses Iraq
Cross Hall

THE PRESIDENT:

Good morning. Fifteen months ago, I announced the surge. And this week, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker (No relation to Betty) gave Congress a detailed report on the results.

Fifteen months ago, al Qaeda had bases in Iraq (which were not there before my pre-emptive invasion) that it was using to kill our troops and terrorize the Iraqi people; today, we have put al Qaeda on the defensive in Iraq, and we're now working to deliver a crippling blow (And if that delivery should take a hundred years, John McCain is ready to take the reins from me and continue the way forward with that delivery).

Fifteen months ago, Americans were worried about the prospect of failure in Iraq; today, thanks to the surge, we've renewed and revived the prospect of success (And Americans are still worried about the prospect of failure).

With this goal in mind, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have submitted recommendations on the way forward (Don’t ask where the way forward lies).

The recommendation likely to receive the most attention is on troop levels. General Petraeus has reported that security conditions have improved enough to withdraw all five surge brigades by the end of July. That means that by July 31st, the number of U.S. combat brigades in Iraq will be down by 25 percent from last year (But our total troop level will be about where it was before my surge).

Beyond that, General Petraeus says he'll need time to consolidate his forces and assess how this reduced American presence will affect conditions on the ground before making measured recommendations on further reductions. And I've told him he'll have all the time he needs (About eight months).

Some have suggested that this period of evaluation will be a "pause." That's misleading, because none of our operations in Iraq will be on hold.

(This is a perpetual war. No holds barred. Until I’m behind bars or in one.)

Instead, we will use the months ahead to take advantage of opportunities created by the surge -- and continue operations across the board (That includes the chess board and the water board).

Our job in the period ahead is to stand with the Iraqi government as it makes tough choices and makes the transition to responsibility for its own security and its own destiny (Which I’ve been saying for the past five years).

In the period ahead, we'll also continue to train, equip, and support the Iraqi security forces, continue to transfer security responsibilities to them as provinces become ready, and move over time into an overwatch role (Or an Overlord role, if you prefer. I kind of think of myself as The Overlord).

The Iraqi army and police are increasingly capable, and leading the fight to secure their country (Only a thousand of them deserted last week).

On the economic front, Iraq is moving forward. With Iraq's economy growing, oil revenues on the rise, and its capital investment expanding, our economic role in the country is changing. Iraqis in their recent budget would outspend us on reconstruction by more than ten to one (And in that “one” we didn’t get the water or electricity flowing…so maybe the Iraqis will).

On the diplomatic front, Iraq will increase its engagement in the world -- and the world must increase its engagement with Iraq. To help in this effort, I'm directing Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus to visit Saudi Arabia on their trip back to Iraq. I'm directing our nation's senior diplomats to meet with the leaders in Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar, and Kuwait and Egypt. (I know I’m about 5 years too late with my diplomatic engagement, but I’ve been married to war. Since I’ll be leaving in 8 months, I’ll open the diplomatic door…and then run like hell to my ranch!).

The regime in Tehran also has a choice to make. It can live in peace with its neighbor, enjoy strong economic and cultural and religious ties (Or it can be nuked by us and the Israelis).

If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests, and our troops, and our Iraqi partners (And our even smarter bombs will be dropped).

Our work in Iraq will still demand sacrifices from our whole nation, especially our military, for some time to come (Just like those Aztecs demanded their sacrifices).

Our troops want to win. Recruiting and retention have remained strong during the surge (Though not much water retention since it’s quite hot in Iraq).

And I believe this: I believe the surest way to depress morale and weaken the force would be to lose in Iraq (Or to stay there without a plan to withdraw).

One key to ensuring that our military remains ready is to provide the resources they need promptly. Congress will soon consider a vital emergency war funding request. Members of Congress must pass a bill that provides our troops the resources they need -- and does not tie the hands of our commanders or impose artificial timelines for withdrawal (Again, my war is going to be a perpetual one until there is victory! We have a ways to go before we’ve spent $3,000,000,000,000).

Some in Washington argue that the war costs too much money (Your gas costs too much money, too, but you still fill up your tanks.)

There's no doubt that the costs of this war have been high (And that I’ve been too high…on my horse).

Iraq is the convergence point for two of the greatest threats to America in this new century -- al Qaeda and Iran (And you can thank me---your Decider and Divider---for creating these two great threats and their convergence).

If we succeed in Iraq after all that al Qaeda and Iran have invested there (And after all that the U.S. has invested there), it would be a historic blow to the global terrorist movement and a severe setback for Iran.

It would give America a new partner (And plenty of oil) with a growing economy and a democratic political system in which Sunnis and Shia and Kurds all work together for the good of their country. And in all these ways, it would bring us closer to our most important goal -- making the American people safer here at home (Or we could leave…and just make ourselves safer here at home…and not continue to occupy a foreign nation that never attacked us in the first place).

And while this war is difficult, it is not endless (Only perpetual).

And we expect that, as conditions on the ground continue to improve, they will permit us to continue the policy of return on success. The day will come when Iraq is a capable partner (And no longer a prisoner) of the United States. The day will come when Iraq is a stable democracy (With more camels in its stables) that helps fight our common enemies and promote our common interests in the Middle East (Hmm…Just what are those common interests?)

And when that day arrives, you'll come home with pride in your success, and the gratitude of your whole nation (which at the moment is full of holes).

God bless you.

(Applause.)

IT'S THE OIL STUPID!