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President Bush Participates in Video Teleconference with Iraq Provincial
Reconstruction Team Leaders and Brigade Combat Commanders
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary October 15, 2008

President Bush Participates in Video Teleconference with Iraq Provincial
Reconstruction Team Leaders and Brigade Combat Commanders Roosevelt Room

˙ /news/releases/2008/10/20081015-4.wm.v.html ˙˙Presidential Remarks
˙˙Audio ˙˙En Espa¤ol

˙˙˙˙˙ Fact Sheet: Success of the Surge Allows Political Improvements in
Iraq ˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Iraq

10:32 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: I've just finished a meeting with our Ambassador, and
General Odierno, members of our -- some of the PRTs, Provincial
Reconstruction Teams, in Iraq, for folks who have been spending time in
Iraq. We are having success in Iraq. And one of the main reasons why is
we're implementing an innovative strategy that combines our military with
civilian expertise to help people at the grassroots level build a society
that will lay the foundation for peace.

And so it's been a fascinating discussion. And I come away with a couple of
thoughts. One, America is fortunate to have courageous souls volunteer to
help develop an ally in the war against extremists, to develop a democracy
in a part of the world where a lot of people said democracy could never
flourish; and secondly, that we are implementing a strategy in the
provinces which is effective.

The good thing about our military and our civilians in the PRTs, they're
constantly looking at ways to make sure that we remain effective. And I
have asked the press corps to come in here so I could, on TV, thank you all
for what you're doing, and thank you for your service. We are fortunate to
have citizens such as yourself. Thank you.

END 10:34 A.M. EDT

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