First, the success of Prime Minister Maliki's government
is critical to success in Iraq. His unity government was chosen through
free elections in which nearly 12 million Iraqis cast their ballots in
support of democracy. Our goal in Iraq is to strengthen his democratic
government and help Iraq's leaders build a free nation that can govern
itself, sustain itself, and defend itself -- and is an ally in the war
on terror.
Second, the success of the Iraqi government depends on the success of
the Iraqi security forces. The training of Iraqi security forces has
been steady, yet we both agreed that we need to do more, and we need to
do it faster. The Prime Minister wants to show the people who elected
him that he's willing to make the hard decisions necessary to provide
security.
To do that, he needs larger and more capable Iraqi forces under his
control, and he needs them quickly. By helping Iraq's elected leaders
get the Iraqi forces they need, we will help Iraq's democratic
government become more effective in fighting the terrorists and other
violent extremists, and in providing security and stability,
particularly in Baghdad.
Third, success in Iraq requires strong institutions that will stand
the test of time and hardship. Our goal in Iraq is to help Prime
Minister Maliki build a country that is united, where the rule of law
prevails and the rights of minorities are respected. The Prime Minister
made clear that splitting his country into parts is not what the Iraqi
people want and that any partition of Iraq would lead to an increase in
sectarian violence.
Security in Iraq requires sustained action by the Iraqi security
forces, yet in the long term, security in Iraq hinges on reconciliation
among Iraq's different ethnic and religious communities. And the Prime
Minister has committed his government to achieving that goal.
The Prime Minister and I also discussed the review of America's
strategy in Iraq that is now nearing completion. As part of this review,
I've asked our military leaders in the Pentagon and those on the ground
in Iraq to provide their recommendations on the best way forward.
A bipartisan panel, led by former Secretary of State James Baker and
former Congressman Lee Hamilton, is also conducting a review. And I look
forward to receiving their report next week. I want to hear all advice
before I make any decisions about adjustments to our strategy in Iraq.
I recognize that the recent violence in Iraq has been unsettling.
Many people in our country are wondering about the way forward. The work
ahead will not be easy, yet by helping Prime Minister Maliki strengthen
Iraq's democratic institutions and promote national reconciliation, our
military leaders and diplomats can help put Iraq on a solid path to
liberty and democracy. The decisions we make in Iraq will be felt across
the broader Middle East.
Failure in Iraq would embolden the extremists who hate America and
want nothing more than to see our demise. It would strengthen the hand
of those who are seeking to undermine young democracies across the
region and give the extremists an open field to overthrow moderate
governments, take control of countries, impose their rule on millions,
and threaten the American people. Our Nation must not allow this to
happen.
Success in Iraq will require leaders in Washington -- Republicans and
Democrats alike -- to come together and find greater consensus on the
best path forward. So I will work with leaders in both parties to
achieve this goal. Together we can help Iraqis build a free and
democratic nation in the heart of the Middle East, strengthen moderates
and reformers across the region who are working for peace, and leave our
children and grandchildren a more secure and hopeful world.
Thank you for listening. |