Bush, Maliki News Conference...11/30/06 Joint Committee on Accelerating the Transferring of Security

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6559560
Bush, Maliki News Conference Transcript

NPR.org, November 30, 2006 ·

Following is a White House transcript of today's joint news conference of President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Amman, Jordan.

....Secondly, the success of the Iraqi government depends on the success of the Iraqi security forces. During our meetings, the Prime Minister and I heard an update from an important group that our government established last month: the Joint Committee on Accelerating the Transferring of Security Responsibility.

The Prime Minister and I also discussed the review of our strategy in Iraq that is now nearing completion. I assured the Prime Minister that our review is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the sovereign government of Iraq to meet their objectives, which we share. As part of the 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.

Others outside the government are conducting their own review, and I look forward to hearing their recommendations. I want to hear all advice before I make my decisions about adjustments to our strategy and tactics in Iraq to help this government succeed.



Let's see -- Martha.

Q Mr. President, is there a time limit on meeting any of these goals for Prime Minister Maliki? And you keep mentioning that the U.S. goal is to fight al Qaeda. Does that mean you believe it's up to the Iraqis to stop the sectarian violence and quell the sectarian violence, and this is something you don't want U.S. troops involved in?

PRESIDENT BUSH: What was the first part of your three-part question? (Laughter.)

Q Including sectarian violence?

....PRESIDENT BUSH:
Well that's -- killers taking innocent life is, in some cases, sectarian. I happen to view it as criminal, as well as sectarian. I think any time you murder somebody, you're a criminal. And I believe a just society and a society of -- that holds people to account and believes in rule of law protects innocent people from murderers, no matter what their political party is.

...And that's exactly what we discussed today. We had a Joint Committee on Accelerating the Transfer of Security Responsibility Report. And it was a report that General Casey, who is with us today, and our Ambassador Zal Khalilzad, who is with us today, as well as the Prime Minister's team, delivered to both of us about how to accelerate responsibility to the Iraqi government so this person elected by the people can take the fight to those who want to destroy a young democracy.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. This farce. Instead what they are getting is 20-40K+ marines

in full battle dress to support the "young democracy"

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

2. Yep, Farce