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Statement by the Press Secretary on Iraq
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary July 18, 2008

Statement by the Press Secretary on Iraq

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ In Focus: Iraq

President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki spoke yesterday in their regularly
scheduled secure video conference, about a range of matters including the
improving security situation and the performance of Iraqi Security Forces
across Iraq, from Basra, to Maysan, Baghdad and Sadr City, and Mosul. The
two leaders welcomed the recent visit of Prime Minister Erdogan to Baghdad
and the successful visit of Prime Minister Maliki to the UAE. They also
discussed ongoing initiatives to follow security gains with Iraqi
investment in its people, infrastructure, cities, and towns, which will be
aided by a $21 billion supplemental budget now before the Iraqi parliament.

In the context of these improving political, economic, and security
conditions, the President and the Prime Minister discussed the ongoing
negotiations to establish a normalized bilateral relationship between Iraq
and the United States. The leaders agreed on a common way forward to
conclude these negotiations as soon as possible, and noted in particular
the progress made toward completing a broad strategic framework agreement
that will build on the Declaration of Principles signed last November, and
include areas of cooperation across many fields, including economics,
diplomacy, health, culture, education, and security.

In the area of security cooperation, the President and the Prime Minister
agreed that improving conditions should allow for the agreements now under
negotiation to include a general time horizon for meeting aspirational
goals -- such as the resumption of Iraqi security control in their cities
and provinces and the further reduction of U.S. combat forces from Iraq.
The President and Prime Minister agreed that the goals would be based on
continued improving conditions on the ground and not an arbitrary date for
withdrawal. The two leaders welcomed in this regard the return of the final
surge brigade to the United States this month, and the ongoing transition
from a primary combat role for U.S. forces to an overwatch role, which
focuses on training and advising Iraqi forces, and conducting
counter-terror operations in support of those forces.

This transition and the subsequent reduction in U.S. forces from Iraq is a
testament to the improving capacity of Iraq's Security Forces and the
success of joint operations that were initiated under the new strategy put
in place by the President and the Prime Minister in January 2007.

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