Spring Break
President says success in Iraq is necessary for national security, announces troop reduction
Democrats argue plan is continuation of previous policy of staying the course
By: Rick Rojas
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
President George W. Bush says the military must continue the fight in Iraq because success there would be as fruitful for United States as much as it would be for Iraq. And because of marked improvements on the ground, he said, 5, 700 soldiers will begin coming home by Christmas.
Amid public dissatisfaction of the war in national polls, the president addressed the nation in a 17-minute, primetime television address Thursday evening presenting his course for continuing the war and announced the beginning of a reduction in troops.
"The success of a free Iraq is critical to the security of the United States," he said, in his eighth primetime address concerning Iraq. "A free Iraq will deny al-Qaida a safe haven. A free Iraq will counter the destructive ambitions of Iran. A free Iraq will marginalize extremists, unleash the talent of its people, and be an anchor of stability in the region."
He cited the situation in Anbar Province, located west of Baghdad, as a rubric of improvement that can be applied throughout other trouble parts of Iraq.
"Last year, an intelligence report concluded that Anbar had been lost to al- Qaida. Some cited this as evidence that we had failed in Iraq and should cut our losses and pull out," Bush said. "Instead, we kept the pressure on the terrorists."
Because of an additional 4,000 marines sent to the region, he said, religious leaders, Iraqi forces and American forces collaborated and purged insurgents from the province in addition to changing the alliances of the people. "Young Sunnis who once joined the insurgency are now joining the army and police … new jobs are being created and local governments are meeting again," he said.
That rubric established in Anbar is already working against the violence in Baghdad, Bush added.
"Realizing this vision will be difficult, but it is achievable," Bush said. "Our military commanders believe we can succeed. Our diplomats believe we can succeed. And for the safety of future generations of Americans, we must succeed."
Amid public dissatisfaction of the war in national polls, the president addressed the nation in a 17-minute, primetime television address Thursday evening presenting his course for continuing the war and announced the beginning of a reduction in troops.
"The success of a free Iraq is critical to the security of the United States," he said, in his eighth primetime address concerning Iraq. "A free Iraq will deny al-Qaida a safe haven. A free Iraq will counter the destructive ambitions of Iran. A free Iraq will marginalize extremists, unleash the talent of its people, and be an anchor of stability in the region."
He cited the situation in Anbar Province, located west of Baghdad, as a rubric of improvement that can be applied throughout other trouble parts of Iraq.
"Last year, an intelligence report concluded that Anbar had been lost to al- Qaida. Some cited this as evidence that we had failed in Iraq and should cut our losses and pull out," Bush said. "Instead, we kept the pressure on the terrorists."
Because of an additional 4,000 marines sent to the region, he said, religious leaders, Iraqi forces and American forces collaborated and purged insurgents from the province in addition to changing the alliances of the people. "Young Sunnis who once joined the insurgency are now joining the army and police … new jobs are being created and local governments are meeting again," he said.
That rubric established in Anbar is already working against the violence in Baghdad, Bush added.
"Realizing this vision will be difficult, but it is achievable," Bush said. "Our military commanders believe we can succeed. Our diplomats believe we can succeed. And for the safety of future generations of Americans, we must succeed."
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com