Events 2007

President George W. Bush greets U.S. Military personnel at Al Asad Airbase, Al Anbar Province

President Bush Meets With Iraqi Leaders, Thanks Troops in Iraq

September 5, 2007

"Today, Anbar is a really different place. The level of violence is down, local governments are meeting again, police are more in control of the city streets, and normal life is returning. The people of this province are seeing that standing up to the extremists is the path to a better life, that success is possible.... We can't take this progress for granted. Here in Anbar and across Iraq, al Qaeda and other enemies of freedom will continue to try to kill the innocent in order to impose their dark ideology. But General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker tell me if the kind of success we are now seeing continues, it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces. These two fine Americans will report to Congress next week, and I urge members of both parties in Congress to listen to what they have to say. Congress shouldn't jump to conclusions until the General and the Ambassador report."

You can read his entire speech here.