Bush defends pace of progress in Iraq

[3:54] ..." on a fateful day in this war. -- delivered justice to the Al Qaeda terrorists are college. In the form of two precision guided 500 pound bombs. Military achievements in Iraq have been accompanied by political"...

[4:41] ..." found themselves. Buried in mass graves. No matter of fifteen months. The Iraqi people reclaimed their celebrity. They went on to choose an interim government. And to ratify the most democratic constitution in the Arab world."...

[5:37] ..." in samarra -- sectarian tensions past the breaking point. Sunni extremists including Al Qaeda terrorists. And shia extremists some backed by Iran. Slaughtered innocent Iraqis and brutal attacks and reprisal killings. Across the country political and"...

[6:25] ..." Iraq. And gave them a new mission to focus on protecting the Iraqi people. And holding gains it had been made. The other goal of the search was open up space for political and economic progress. After security return. So we deployed additional civilian experts and more than double the number of provincial reconstruction teams. With a mission to ensure the security gains were followed up by improvements in daily life. General Petraeus and ambassador Crocker will provide more details. About the progress of the search and they testified before congress early next month. But"...

[7:41] ..." the sectarian violence and civilian deaths. We broke in the grip of Al Qaeda on the capital. We've weaken the influence of Iranian backed militias. We dramatically improve security conditions in many devastated neighborhoods. And what some have gained a -- liberation. In Anbar province. Which eighteen months ago was declared lost to Al Qaeda. We join with the brave local -- to. Launch the first large scale Arab uprising against -- Together we systematically them dismantled Al Qaeda in that province. Just over a year. Remodeled the capital of Anbar. Has seen its average number of attacks plummet from more than eighteen per day to less than one per week. It's becoming clear that -- has not been. Lost Qaeda. They Al Qaeda has been has lost handbook. And that's important because just as the place where Al Qaeda leadership. Has said it will find safe haven from which to launch further attacks against the United States of America. In other parts of Iraq. Baghdad belts to -- Providence to parts of the south we've worked with coalition Iraqi forces to drive the terrorists out of strongholds. And put him on the run. Al Qaeda is concentrated its efforts. In the area but also. Which is in northern Iraq. There's going to be tough fighting and most. And areas around Mosul in the weeks and months. What we are determined along with the Iraqis. To make sure Al Qaeda meets the same fate there that is met elsewhere in Iraq."...

[9:46] ..." Security gains has been new cooperation from the Iraqi people. Ordinary Iraqis have come forward with intelligence tips. Citizens who once hostile to the coalition have switched sides and are joining with"...

[11:47] ..." he builds on the security gains of the surgeon demonstrates to the Iraqi people. If their government is committed to protecting them. There's a strong commitment. By the central government of Iraq to say that no"...

[13:30] ..." example in -- tribal -- who led the uprising against Al Qaeda. Are now leading a revival of politics. With support of -- P Ortiz for money now has a fully staffed mayor's office."...

[30:49] ..." My administration worked complete. This strategic partnership in the coming months. The Iraqi people. Have chosen to stand -- America against our common enemies. And it's in our interest. That we stand with them. Having witnessed on the progress of the surge in natural question is. What are the next steps. Well this week had been discussing the question what my national security team in Washington as well as -- general Petraeus. And ambassador Crocker in Baghdad. They would discuss their questions were members of congress when they come and testify in April. They'll"...

[31:56] ..." as secretary gates. Joint Chiefs of Staff. And those on the ground. General Petraeus and ambassador -- And -- announce my decisions soon after I have. Fully met with them -- your review recommendations. And as"...

[34:50] ..." Are not in Iraq. The convergence point. For the twin threats of Al Qaeda and Iran. The nation Osama bin Laden's deputy has called the place for the greatest battle. The country at heart but the"...

[35:39] ..." severe disruption to the world's economy. It would increase the likelihood that Al Qaeda. We -- safe havens that they can use to attack us. Here at home. It would be a propaganda victory a colossal"...

[36:49] ..." be a strategic victory. That would resound far beyond Iraq's borders. If Al Qaeda is defeated in Iraq after all the resources is it is poured into the battle there. Will be a powerful blow against"...

[3:03]" Nothing wrong with -- having famous relatives this museum pays tribute to a to great aircraft in greater man. And women. From the first flyers of the great war. To the nation World War II. To the daring pilots -- Korean Vietnam. And over the past six years. A new generation of American airmen and women have joined that storied history. After all the air force. -- critical and liberate the people of Afghanistan. And the people of Iraq. And taken the fight. To the enemy overseas who we do not have to face them here at home on a fateful day in this war. -- delivered justice to the Al Qaeda terrorists are college. In the form of two precision guided 500 pound bombs. Military achievements in Iraq have been accompanied by political a political transformation. It can feel like this in history. But it is only five years ago. That Iraq was one of the most brutal dictatorships on -- The -- to. Totalitarian nightmare. We're any election was a sham. And -- often found themselves. Buried in mass graves. No matter of fifteen months. The Iraqi people reclaimed their celebrity. They went on to choose an interim government. And to ratify the most democratic constitution in the Arab world. In December 200512 million Iraqis elected a government under that constitution. The display of courage that defied the terrorists. Just proved the critics and should always inspire the world. Tragically the progress. Threatened to unravel. In 2006. The new government Iraqis elected to. Months to form. In the meantime a terrorist attack on the shia shrine in samarra -- sectarian tensions past the breaking point. Sunni extremists including Al Qaeda terrorists. And shia extremists some backed by Iran. Slaughtered innocent Iraqis and brutal attacks and reprisal killings. Across the country political and economic activity was set back. We took a hard look at the situation. And responded with a search. This dramatic shift in policy had two primary goals. The first was to improve security conditions. -- ordered 30000 additional soldiers and Marines into Iraq. And gave them a new mission to focus on protecting the Iraqi people. And holding gains it had been made. The other goal of the search was open up space for political and economic progress. After security return. So we deployed additional civilian experts and more than double the number of provincial reconstruction teams. With a mission to ensure the security gains were followed up by improvements in daily life. General Petraeus and ambassador Crocker will provide more details. About the progress of the search and they testified before congress early next month. But this much is clear. The surge is doing. What it was designed to do. It's helping Iraqis reclaim security and restart political and economic life. It is bringing America closer to -- key strategic victory. In the war against these extremists and radicals. Those securities. The surge has brought important gains which I discussed in detail last week in a speech at the Pentagon. Baghdad we've worked with the Iraqi security forces to greatly diminish the sectarian violence and civilian deaths. We broke in the grip of Al Qaeda on the capital. We've weaken the influence of Iranian backed militias. We dramatically improve security conditions in many devastated neighborhoods. And what some have gained a -- liberation. In Anbar province. Which eighteen months ago was declared lost to Al Qaeda. We join with the brave local -- to. Launch the first large scale Arab uprising against -- Together we systematically them dismantled Al Qaeda in that province. Just over a year. Remodeled the capital of Anbar. Has seen its average number of attacks plummet from more than eighteen per day to less than one per week. It's becoming clear that -- has not been. Lost Qaeda. They Al Qaeda has been has lost handbook. And that's important because just as the place where Al Qaeda leadership. Has said it will find safe haven from which to launch further attacks against the United States of America. In other parts of Iraq. Baghdad belts to -- Providence to parts of the south we've worked with coalition Iraqi forces to drive the terrorists out of strongholds. And put him on the run. Al Qaeda is concentrated its efforts. In the area but also. Which is in northern Iraq. There's going to be tough fighting and most. And areas around Mosul in the weeks and months. What we are determined along with the Iraqis. To make sure Al Qaeda meets the same fate there that is met elsewhere in Iraq."

[9:46]" Security gains has been new cooperation from the Iraqi people. Ordinary Iraqis have come forward with intelligence tips. Citizens who once hostile to the coalition have switched sides and are joining with us. Over the past year. More than a 100000 Iraqis have joined their nation's security forces. In other words there was an Iraqi surged to match your own. These Iraqis are fighting and sacrificing for their country they want to live in a free society. Iraqi mothers want their children to grow up in peace just like American mothers do."

[10:42]" Recently they planned and executed highly effective operation to secure nearly nine million pilgrims celebrating the religious holiday. Of -- brain. And as we speak. Iraqi security forces are waging a tough battle. Against militia fighters and criminals in basra. Many of whom have received. Arms and training and funding from Iran. Prime Minister -- he's bold decision. And it was a -- decision. To go after the illegal groups in basra shows his leadership and his commitment to enforce the law in an evenhanded manner. It also shows the progress the Iraqi security forces have made during the search. Iraqi forces planned this operation. And they deployed substantial extra forces for. They're leading the operation. Prime Minister Maliki -- traveled to basra to oversee it firsthand. This offense he builds on the security gains of the surgeon demonstrates to the Iraqi people. If their government is committed to protecting them. There's a strong commitment. By the central government of Iraq to say that no one is above the law. Its operations going to take some time to complete. And the enemy you know try to fill the TV screens -- violence. But the ultimate result will be this terrorists and extremists in Iraq will know they have no place in a free democratic society."

[12:32]" Is yielding major changes in Iraqi political life. And that is important. Before the search politics at every level was shutting down. The -- security crisis. Prevented a routine conduct of government. -- ordinary citizens. Politics where a distant concern after all -- simply trying to keep your families -- life. For all Iraqis to violence -- sectarian attitudes and made. Tough political compromises impossible. A year later. One year later after we sent additional troops into Iraq. The situation has changed markedly. With security improving local citizens have restarted the political process. In their neighborhoods and cities and provinces. -- example in -- tribal -- who led the uprising against Al Qaeda. Are now leading a revival of politics. With support of -- P Ortiz for money now has a fully staffed mayor's office. And neighborhood councils have formed judges are presiding over courts and restoring the rule law. As a news of the success in Anbar has spread. Similar grassroots movements have sprung up all around the country. Today some 90000 Iraqis. Belonged to local citizens' group bearing the proud -- sons of Iraq. These groups are Sunnis summer -- summer mixed but whatever their Emeka. These groups of citizens are determined to protect their communities they are determined to fight extremism. And they increasingly participate in civic life. -- people who stepped up and said we're sick and tired of our families having to live in violence. We can't stand the thought of people who murder the innocent to achieve political objectives and we intend to do something about it and they have. The central government is beginning to respond to these sons of Iraq and it's not -- after all some of them former regime members or former insurgents. If the Iraqi government has pledged to incorporate about twenty to 30%. Of the sons of Iraq into the Iraqi army and police forces. For the rest of national government is now committed a 196 million dollars to fund jobs programs. So that brave Iraqis who stand deputy extremists. And the murderers and criminals can learn the skills they need to help build a free and prosperous nation. Sons of Iraq -- is only one. The element of the bottom up political process. You know sometimes it requires grass roots politics to get the folks in central government. To respond."