BushisspeechonhisIraqvisit (June17,) Goodmorning.Earlierthisweek,ItraveledtoBaghdadtovisitthecapitalofafreeanddemocraticIraq.ItwasanincrediblefeelingtostandinthecockpitofAirForceOneandwatchthepilotsteerusintowardBaghdad. Afterwelanded,Ihadthepleasureofmeetingwithourdedicatedembassystaffandintelligenceofficersservingfarfromhomeunderdangerouscircumstances.AndIwashonoredtomeetwithsomeofourtroops,includingthoseresponsibleforbringingjusticetotheterroristZarqawi.Itwasaprivilegetoshaketheirhands,lookthemintheeye,andtellthemhowmuchtheAmericanpeopleappreciatetheirdailycourage,andhowmuchweappreciatethesacrificesthattheyandtheirfamiliesaremaking. Onmytrip,IalsometwiththenewIraqiPrimeMinisterMaliki,andIwasabletoseefirsthandhisstrongcharacterandhisdeterminationtosucceed.WeheldajointmeetingofourtwoCabinets,withmembersofmyCabinetparticipatingbyvideoteleconferencefromCampDavid.ThePrimeMinisterbriefedusonhisplantotakeimmediatestepsinthreekeyareas:improvingsecurity,buildingupIraqseconomysoIraqiscanseerealprogressintheirlives,andreachingouttotheinternationalmunitytosecuresupportforIraqsnewgovernment.ThenwediscussedhowmyadministrationcanhelpthePrimeMinisteracplishthesevitalobjectives. HistoppriorityissecuringBaghdad,soCoalitionandIraqiforceshavelaunchedOperationTogetherForward,ajointefforttorestoresecurityandtheruleoflawtohighriskareasofthecity.TohelpthePrimeMinisterimprovesecurity,wewillcontinueembeddingCoalitiontransitionteamsinIraqiarmyandpoliceunits,andwewillhelpthenewIraqiMinistersofDefenseandInteriorimprovetheirmandandcontrol,rootoutcorruption,andinvestigateandpunishhumanrightsviolations.WewillalsosupportthePrimeMinisterasheworkstoreininillegalmilitias,buildajudicialsystemthatwillprovideequaljusticetoall,andpromotereconciliationamongtheIraqipeople. ToaidthePrimeMinisterinrevitalizingIraqseconomy,wewillsendadditionalexpertstohelptheIraqigovernmentdevelopaneconomicframeworkthatwillpromotejobcreationandopportunityforallIraqis.WewillalsohelpthePrimeMinisterincreaseoilandelectricityproductionbyworkingtogetheronwaystoprotectkeyinfrastructurefromattacks,andtoquicklyrestoreoilandelectricityproductionwhenattacksdooccur. Finally,AmericawillhelpthePrimeMinisterengagetheinternationalmunityinIraqssuccess.WewillencourageothernationstofulfillthemonetarypledgestheyhavealreadymadetohelpthenewIraqigovernmentsucceed.WewillalsosupportthePrimeMinisterseffortstoforgeanewinternationalpact.Underthispact,Iraqwilltakeaseriesofstepsinthepolitical,economic,andsecurityareas,andinreturn,theinternationalmunitywillprovideIraqwithmorerobustpoliticalandeconomicsupport. Duringmytrip,IwasimpressedwiththePrimeMinister,theteamhehasassembled,andtheplanhehassetforhisgovernment.Iappreciatehisdetermination,andthedeterminationofhisCabinet,tomakehisagendawork.ItoldthemthatthefutureofIraqisintheirhands.AndItoldthemthatAmericaisanationthatkeepsitsword,andAmericawillstandwiththemasweworktowardoursharedgoal:afreeIraqthatcangovernitself,sustainitself,anddefenditself.Byseizingthismomentofopportunity,wewilldefeatourmonenemiesandbuildalastingdemocracyintheheartoftheMiddleEast,andthatwillmakeAmericans,Iraqis,andtheworldmoresecure. ItraveledtoBaghdadtopersonallyshowourNationsmitmenttoafreeIraq,becauseitisvitalfortheIraqipeopletoknowwithcertaintythatAmericawillnotabandonthemafterwehaveethisfar.ThechallengesthatremaininIraqareserious.Wefacedeterminedenemieswhoremainintentonkillingtheinnocent,anddefeatingtheseenemieswillrequiremoresacrificeandthecontinuedpatienceofourcountry.ButoureffortsinIraqarewellworthit,themissionisnecessaryforthesecurityofourcountry,andwewillsucceed.