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For Immediate Release
February 21, 2007
Setting the Record Straight: Sen. Reid On British Transfer Of Basra Responsibilities To Iraqis
Setting the Record Straight
"The fact that they have made some progress on the ground is going to
enable them to move some of the forces out, and that's ultimately the kind
of thing that we want to be able to see throughout Iraq. As the President
said all along, the idea is to build greater Iraqi capability, and when the
time comes, to be able to move folks out."
- White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, 2/21/07
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Calls British Decision To Transfer More
Responsibilities To The Iraqis An Acknowledgement Of "A Reality That
President Bush Still Stubbornly Refuses To Accept." (Sen. Harry Reid
(D-NV), Statement, 2/21/07)
-
In Announcing His Decision, Prime Minister Blair Notes That The British
Action Is Based On Conditions On The Ground, Not An Artificial Timeline:
"The speed at which this happens depends, of course, in part on what we do,
what the Iraqi authorities themselves do; but also on the attitude of those
we are, together, fighting. Their claim to be fighting for the liberation
of their country is a palpable lie. They know perfectly well that if they
stopped the terror, agreed to let the UN democratic process work and
allowed the natural talent and wealth of the country to emerge, Iraq would
prosper. We would be able to leave. It is precisely their intent to
eliminate such a possibility." (Prime Minister Tony Blair, Statement On
Iraq And The Middle East, 2/21/07)
- Prime Minister Blair: Transferring Responsibility Will Not "Mean A
Diminution In The [UK's] Combat Capability." (Prime Minister Tony Blair,
Statement On Iraq And The Middle East, 2/21/07)
- Prime Minister Blair: It Is Important To Show "That However Long It Takes,
The Legitimate Iraqi Government ... Will Prevail." "The aim of the
additional US forces announced by President Bush is precisely to
demonstrate that determination. If the Plan succeeds, then, of course, the
requirement for the MNF reduces including in Baghdad." (Prime Minister
Tony Blair, Statement On Iraq And The Middle East, 2/21/07)
- Prime Minister Blair: "It Is Important To Show The Iraqi People
That We Do Not Desire Our Forces To Remain Any Longer Than They Are Needed;
But Whilst They Are Needed, We Will Be At Their Side."
- Prime Minister Blair: "In This Context, What Is Happening In Basra
Is Of Huge Importance." "Over the past months, we have been conducting an
operation in Basra, with the 10th Division of the Iraqi Army, to reach the
stage where Basra can be secured by the Iraqis themselves. The situation
in Basra is very different from Baghdad. ... As a result of this operation
[in Basra], which is now complete, the Iraqi Forces now have the primary
role for security in most parts of the city."
- Prime Minister Blair: "But What Nobody Should Doubt Is That Whatever The
Debates About Tactics, The Strategy Is Clear: To Bring About Enduring
Change In The Middle East As An Indispensable Part Of Our Own Enduring
Security." "The poisonous ideology that erupted after 9/11 has its roots
there, and is still nurtured and supported there. It has chosen Iraq as the
battleground. Defeating it is essential." (Prime Minister Tony Blair,
Statement On Iraq And The Middle East, 2/21/07)
Sen. Reid Misrepresents The New Way Forward In Iraq
Sen. Reid Misrepresents The President's New Iraq Strategy: "Instead of
escalating against the express will of Congress and the American people,
the President should follow the advice of military leaders and the
bipartisan Iraq Study Group and change course in Iraq." (Sen. Harry Reid
(D-NV), Statement, 2/21/07)
- President Bush: "People Are Prejudging The Outcome" Of The New Iraq
Strategy "Before It Has A Chance To Work." "I concluded that to step back
from the fight in Baghdad would have disastrous consequences for people in
America. That's the conclusion I came to. It's the conclusion members of
my staff came to. It's the conclusion that a lot in the military came to."
(President Bush, Press Conference, The White House, 2/14/07)
- The President: "[The House Iraq resolution] may become the first
time in the history of the United States Congress that it has voted to send
a new commander into battle and then voted to oppose his plan that is
necessary to succeed in that battle." (President Bush, Remarks To The
American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC, 2/15/07)
- Gen. David Petraeus: Additional Troops Are Necessary To Get The Job Done.
SEN. MCCAIN: "Suppose we send you over to your new job, General, only we
tell you that we can't have - you can't have any additional troops. Can
you get your job done?" GEN. PETRAEUS: "No, sir." (Committee On Armed
Services, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 1/23/07)
- Iraq Study Group Co-Chair And Former Secretary Of State James A. Baker,
III: "Both Of" The Iraq Study Group's "Conditions" For Additional Troops To
Secure Baghdad "Have Been Met." (Committee On Foreign Relations, U.S.
Senate, Hearing, 1/30/07)
- Sec. Baker: "There Are Some Very Important Points Of Similarity
Between The Study Group's Report And The President's Plan For Security."
(Committee On Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 1/30/07)
# # #
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