Iraq

11 December 2008 Blackwater Indictments Show America's Commitment to Rule of Law  The U.S. Department of Justice has brought criminal charges against five American private security contractors following a 2007 incident that continues to shape the future of relations between Iraq and the United States.

06 December 2008 President Bush's Radio Address  President Bush discussed the Iraq Presidency Council's approval of “two landmark agreements that will solidify Iraq's democratic gains, affirm its sovereignty, and put its relations with the United States on a strong and steady footing.”

05 December 2008 United States Hails Iraqi Ratification of Security Pact   The Iraqi government has ratified a landmark U.S.-Iraqi security agreement calling for a full withdrawal of American forces from the country by the end of 2011, along with a companion agreement shaping the future of relations between Washington and Baghdad.

27 November 2008 Statement by the President on Agreements with Iraq  Earlier today, in another sign of progress, Iraq's Council of Representatives approved two agreements with the U.S., a Strategic Framework Agreement and a Security Agreement, often called a Status of Forces Agreement or SOFA. The Strategic Framework Agreement sets the foundation for a long-term bilateral relationship between our two countries, and the Security Agreement addresses our presence, activities, and withdrawal from Iraq.
 • Text of Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq

17 November 2008 Iraqi Cabinet Approves Security Pact with United States  Iraq’s Cabinet has approved a new U.S.-Iraqi security agreement calling for a full withdrawal of American forces from the country by the end of 2011. The agreement now goes to Iraq's parliament for approval. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe welcomed the Iraqi Cabinet’s November 16 vote as another step forward for Iraq’s fledgling democracy. "We remain hopeful and confident we’ll soon have an agreement that serves both the people of Iraq and the United States well and sends a signal to the region and the world that both our governments are committed to a stable, secure and democratic Iraq."

06 November 2008 Some American Forces Leave Iraq Ahead of Schedule  Dramatic security progress in Iraq will allow the U.S. military to reduce troop levels faster than expected, says White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, who announced that approximately 3,500 American soldiers will return to their home base nearly two months ahead of schedule.

29 October 2008 Bush Expresses Confidence on U.S.-Iraq Troops Pact  President Bush says he remains confident that a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) defining the future U.S. military presence in Iraq will be passed, while policymakers see Baghdad’s proposed changes to the plan as a further sign of political progress in Iraq.
 • Remarks by Bush and Kurdish Regional Government President Barzani

23 October 2008 Security Responsibility Returns to Iraqis in Babil Province  Coalition forces have turned over primary security responsibility for Iraq's Babil province to the Iraqis today, another sign of improvements being made in Iraq, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said at a news conference.

16 October 2008 Statement on Iraq's Cultural Heritage Project  Following today’s announcement by Mrs. Bush launching the Iraq Cultural Heritage Project, the U.S. Department of State will begin implementation of this initiative to assist in the preservation of the ancient history of Iraq.

15 October 2008 Success of the Surge and Political Improvements in Iraq  Today, President Bush received an update from Iraq Provincial Reconstruction Team leaders and Brigade Combat Team Commanders on the important progress they are making in communities around Iraq.  The President spoke to representatives from PRTs and BCTs in Ninewa, Maysan, and Sadr City.

03 October 20008 Statement on Iraqi Refugee Admissions, Humanitarian Assistance  By the end of the U.S. government's fiscal year on September 30, 13,823 Iraqi refugees had arrived for resettlement in the United States, surpassing the target of 12,000. This figure represents a more than eightfold increase over the 1608 Iraqis admitted in the previous year. Most of the Iraqis who arrived in the U.S. – over 9,000 – came from Jordan and Syria, the two countries hosting the most Iraqi refugees. Smaller groups came from Turkey, Lebanon, and Egypt.

30 September 2008 Report Says Iraq Security Improves, Fundamental Conflict Remains  Trends across the security, political and economic landscape of Iraq continue to improve, but the fundamental character of the conflict remains unchanged, according to a Defense Department report submitted to Congress yesterday.

24 September 2008 President Bush on Iraq’s Action on Provincial Elections  Today, Iraq’s Parliament passed a Provincial Elections Law enabling Iraq to hold provincial elections by January 31, 2009. Elections in Iraq can now be held under a new system that will give Iraqis more say in choosing their elected representatives.

22 September 2008 Violence in Iraq Continues to Drop, Corps Commander Says  Violence in Iraq – even in the midst of the holy month of Ramadan, which has seen increases in violence in the past – continues its downward trend, the commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq said today.

17 September 2008 President Bush Meets with Former Multi-National Force-Iraq Commander General David Petraeus  

15 September 2008 Gates Notes Shift in Mission as Iraq Command Changes Hands  Tomorrow's Multinational Force Iraq change of command also signifies a shift in the coalition mission in the country, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said while en route to Iraq to participate in the ceremony. Army General David H. Petraeus, who has commanded forces in Iraq since February 2007, will turn the reins over to Army General Raymond T. Odierno.

12 September 2008 Developments in the Iraqi Refugee Admissions and Assistance Programs

09 September 2008 United States Withdrawing 8,000 Troops from Iraq by February  Improving security across Iraq, coupled with a sustained reduction in the levels of violence, is making it possible for the United States to reduce its forces by nearly 8,000 personnel by February 2009.
 • President Bush Remarks at the National Defense University.

01 September 2008 Statement by the President on Transfer of Security to Iraqi Forces in Anbar Province  Today in Iraq, responsibility for security in Anbar Province was transferred to Iraqi civilian authorities. Iraqi forces will now take the lead in security operations in Anbar, with American troops moving into an overwatch role.
 • Fact Sheet: Iraqis Take Responsibility for Security in Anbar Province

27 August 2008 Cheney: U.S. Will Keep Afghanistan, Iraq Commitments  The U.S. will maintain its commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of its offensive strategy to defeat global terrorism, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told American Legion members in Phoenix today.

21 August 2008 U.S.-Iraq Agreement on Military Forces Nearing Completion  The United States and Iraq are very close to completing a final strategic agreement that will permit U.S. military forces to remain in Iraq and continue to conduct operations after a United Nations mandate ends December 31. "We are working together as partners to make certain that we cover the concerns of both parties for the sovereignty of the Iraqi government," Rice said at an August 21 briefing in Baghdad with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
 • Secretary Rice's Remarks With Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari

11 August 2008 Northern Iraq Security Improving, but Not Ready for Iraqi Control  While the security situation in northern Iraq has improved, governors of the four provinces there do not believe it is time for provincial Iraqi control, the coalition commander in the region said.

07 August 2008 Iraqi Forces Continue Coalition Success, Maintain Security Throughout Iraq  Despite the recent drawdown of coalition troops in Iraq, violence levels continue to drop as Iraqi security forces grow in competency and size, a senior coalition spokesman said today during a news conference in Iraq.

31 July 2008 President Bush Discusses Iraq  "This has been a month of encouraging news from Iraq. Violence is down to its lowest level since the spring of 2004, and we're now in our third consecutive month with reduced violence levels holding steady. General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker caution that the progress is still reversible, but they report that there now appears to be a ‘degree of durability’ to the gains we have made."

30 July 2008 Officials Discuss Start of Iraqi-Led Diyala Operations  The operation now under way to clear enemies from Iraq’s Diyala province is Iraqi-conceived, Iraqi-planned and Iraqi-led, a senior coalition officer said today.

25 July 2008 Iraqi Counterterrorism Capabilities Expanding  An Iraqi organization tasked with consolidating and coordinating that country’s counterterrorism effort is now capable of conducting unilateral missions, a U.S. military official said yesterday.

18 July 2008 Statement by the Press Secretary on Iraq  President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki spoke yesterday in their regularly scheduled secure video conference, about a range of matters including the improving security situation and the performance of Iraqi Security Forces across Iraq. The two leaders welcomed the recent visit of Prime Minister Erdogan to Baghdad and the successful visit of Prime Minister Maliki to the UAE.

29 June 2008 U.S. Ambassador Cites Positive Changes in Iraq  Iraq is enjoying some substantial political, and economic progress in addition to better security, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said during an interview on CNN’s "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" today. "As security has improved, the environment has changed for the better," Ryan C. Crocker from Baghdad. "That allows for compromises to emerge that simply were not possible before."

25 June 2008 President Bush Meets with President Talabani of Iraq

23 June 2008 Violence in Iraq Drops to Four-Year Low  Violence in Iraq dropped in May to its lowest level in four years, according to a Defense Department report released to Congress today. The quarterly report, required by Congress, measured progress in the country in March through May of this year.

05 June 2008 United States Does Not Seek Permanent Bases in Iraq  The United States is not seeking to build permanent military bases in Iraq under a new agreement currently being negotiated between the two governments. “There isn’t going to be an agreement that infringes on Iraq’s sovereignty," U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker says.

29 May 2008 Rice Urges More Debt Relief, Development Aid for Iraq  Iraq's improving security conditions are creating an opportunity for nations to help Iraqis make further progress in rebuilding their economy and developing democratic political institutions, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
 • Remarks at The Iraq Compact Conference
 • Secretary Rice Interview with Michael Winiarski of Dagens Nyheter in Stockholm, Sweden

28 May 2008 Remarks by Secretary Rice En Route Stockholm, Sweden  In Stockholm, she will participate in the International Compact with Iraq, which remains a central focus of efforts to work with the Iraqi government on a clear, measurable plan of economic reforms. Since the launching of the Compact, Iraq's donors have stepped forward to reduce Iraq's Saddam-era debts by a total of $18 billion, and partner funding commitments to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) have risen by more than $300 million.

22 May 2008 Nominee to Central Command Lists Success, Challenges in Iraq  The man responsible for overseeing U.S. and coalition operations in Iraq is preparing to take on the much broader mission of marshalling all U.S. military efforts in the region extending from the Middle East to Central Asia.

13 May 2008 U.S. Must Win in Iraq, Focus on Asymmetric Threats, Gates Says  Concerns that the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are distracting the military from preparing for future conflicts are unfounded, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. Rather, he said, the military must heed the lessons of today's wars to prepare for the future.
 • Secretary Gates's Remarks to the Heritage Foundation

23 April 2008 Rice Remarks After Meeting Turkish and Iraqi Foreign Ministers

22 April 2008 Meetings Signal Iraq's Regional Reintegration, Rice Says  The expanded Iraq neighbors meeting in Kuwait has emerged as a forum for the international community to address political, economic and security challenges facing Iraq and the region, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
 • Rice Remarks at Expanding Iraq Neighbors Meeting in Kuwait

20 April 2008 Moving Forward in Iraq  Remarks by Secretary Rice en route Baghdad, Iraq.

17 April 2008 Iraq Needs More Support from Neighbors, Rice Says  What Iraq needs most now is greater support from its neighbors, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "Iraq's fellow Arab states must fulfill their promises to increase their engagement -- diplomatic, economic, social and cultural -- with Iraq's government and people. That includes establishing embassies in Baghdad and exchanging ambassadors," Rice says.

14 April 2008 Extremism is Enemy of Success in Iraq, Gates Says  Extremism is the enemy of success in Iraq, whether in the form of Iranian-backed "special groups," criminal militias or al-Qaida, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday. Gates fielded questions ranging from the strain on the military to how quickly the U.S. will be able to withdraw more troops from Iraq.

12 April 2008 President's Radio Address  " Fifteen months ago this week, I announced the surge. And this week, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker gave Congress a detailed report on the results. Since the surge began, American and Iraqi forces have made significant progress. While there's more to be done, sectarian violence, civilian deaths, and military deaths are down."

11 April 2008 Gates Foresees Fewer Troops in Iraq in 2009  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today he is confident there will be fewer U.S. troops in Iraq in 2009, but added that the drawdown process has gone somewhat more slowly than he thought it would last year.

10 April 2008 Surge Puts Iraq Back on Track, Says Bush  Improving security conditions in Iraq reflect a "major strategic shift," says President Bush, which is setting the stage for Iraqis to continue making political and economic progress and the United States to transition toward a supporting role.
 • President Bush Discusses Iraq
 • Fact Sheet: The Way Forward in Iraq

09 April 2008 Ambassador James B. Foley, Senior Coordinator for Iraqi Refugee Issues, briefs on the Latest Developments in the Iraqi Refugee Admissions Program.

09 April 200 Petraeus, Crocker Finish Marathon of Testimony  U.S. Rep. Howard L. Berman has a gavel, and he’s not afraid to use it. At the fourth appearance in front of a congressional audience by the United States’ top military commander and envoy to Iraq, Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, cut to the chase. Berman asked for only a summary of their previous testimony so the committee members could get straight to their questions on security in Iraq, the strength of its government and when, or if, U.S. troops could come home for good.

08 April 2008 Recent Developments Signal Progress in Iraq, Envoy Crocker Says  There has been substantial progress in Iraq over the past seven months, though immense challenges remain and gains have been both uneven and frustratingly slow, says U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker. "Sustaining that progress will require continuing U.S. resolve and commitment. What has been achieved is substantial, but it is also reversible," Crocker says. Crocker and General David Petraeus, who commands the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee and also were scheduled to testify at a second hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
 • General Petraeus' Report to Congress on Situation in Iraq
 • Ambassador Ryan Crocker’s Testimony Before Lawmakers on Iraq

27 March 2008 Remarks by President Bush on Iraq's Progress  General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are to outline achievements and challenges in Iraq before Congress in April. Related:
 • Fact Sheet: Achieving Political and Economic Progress in Iraq

19 March 2008 Bush Calls Success in Iraq a Strategic Victory Against Terror  Five years ago the U.S. led an international coalition into Iraq to topple a brutal dictator and free 27 million people. Many challenges remain in building a new democracy, but the United States will stand with the Iraqi people because Iraq's success will be a strategic victory against extremists, says President Bush.
 • President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror
 • Fact Sheet: Five Years Later: New Strategy Improving Security in Iraq

19 March 2008 President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror   President Bush said, “Five years ago tonight, I promised the American people that in the struggle ahead ‘we will accept no outcome but victory.’ Today, standing before men and women who helped liberate a nation, I reaffirm the commitment. The battle in Iraq is noble, it is necessary, and it is just. And with your courage, the battle in Iraq will end in victory.”

17 March 2008 Press Briefing by Cheney, Petraeus and Crocker in Iraq  Vice President Cheney marks the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq campaign.

12 March 2008 Bush Reaffirms U.S. Support for Afghanistan, Iraq  The United States remains committed to helping the people of Afghanistan and Iraq confront the forces of extremism and build effective democracies. “The effect of a free Iraq and a free Afghanistan will reach beyond the borders of those two countries,” President Bush said March 11.

27 February 2008 Quicker is Better for Turkish Military Operations in Iraq, Gates Says  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed in Turkey today with the message for the country’s leaders that sooner is better for wrapping up Turkish military operations in northern Iraq. "It"s very important that the Turks make this operation as short as possible and then leave. They have to be mindful of Iraqi sovereignty."

25 February 2008 Military-Civilian Teams Effective in Iraq Reconstruction  U.S. efforts to deliver development assistance to Iraqis have improved as a result of "embedding" civilian reconstruction experts in military combat units, a practice that began with the U.S. military surge into central Iraq and Baghdad one year ago.

14 February 2008 U.S. Attorney General Visits Iraq To Support Legal System  Establishing a functioning national legal system based on the rule of law is a critical element for the Iraqi government as it struggles to provide good governance. U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey acknowledges that building such a system based substantially on different cultures and customs is a serious challenge.

13 February 2008 Secretaries Rice, Gates on What We Need Next in Iraq  There is little doubt that 2008 will be a year of critical transition in Iraq as our force levels continue to come down, as our mission changes and as Iraqis continue to assert their sovereignty. But to continue the success we have seen in recent months, the Iraqi people and government will continue to need our help. Iraqis have requested a normalized relationship with us, and such a relationship will be part of a foundation of success in Iraq -- a foundation upon which future U.S. administrations can build.

08 February 2008 U.S. Committed To Helping Iraqi Refugees  The U.S., shouldering its "special responsibility" toward Iraqi refugees, is preparing to deliver millions of dollars in aid to refugees marooned in neighboring countries and resettle 12,000 refugees by September 30, according to the State Department's coordinator for Iraqi refugees, James Foley.

06 February 2008 United States To Welcome 12,000 More Iraqi Refugees in 2008  It is a long road home for families displaced by war, but U.S. officials hope to offer as many as 12,000 Iraqis the chance to resettle in the United States by the end of 2008.

04 February 2008 Ambassador Crocker’s Interview by Associated Press  U.S. ambassador discusses situation in Iraq.

31 January 2008 President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror in Las Vegas, Nevada

31 January 2008 Future Iraq Decisions Will Be Determined by Success, Bush Says  The U.S. has come too far in Iraq in defeating terrorists, militias and insurgents not to make sure it ultimately succeeds, President Bush says. Future troop reductions will be based on the advice of military commanders and conditions, he says. "Iraq is important for our security. I will be making decisions based upon success in Iraq," the president said January 31 in Las Vegas.

15 January 2007 Secretary Rice Remarks in Baghdad with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari

12 January 2008 President Meets with Commander of Multinational Force-Iraq and Ambassador to Iraq

08 January 2008   President Bush Participates in Video Teleconference with Iraq Provincial Reconstruction Team Leaders and Brigade Combat Commanders
Related: Fact Sheet: Helping Iraq Achieve Economic and Political Stabilization

05 December 2007 Iraqi Burn Victim Helped by Government and Private Efforts  Youssif, the 5-year-old Iraqi victim of an attack involving burning gasoline, is now in the United States receiving medical treatment thanks to close cooperation between the U.S. government, the Cable News Network and private U.S. medical groups, says a consular officer formerly stationed in Baghdad.

29 November 2007 Iraqi Security Forces Take Huge Steps Forward  Iraqi security forces have taken "huge steps forward" in growing and moving toward independent operations, a senior commander in Iraq said today. And they’ve made this progress despite fighting a war on their own soil and working through an immature bureaucracy, said British Army Brigadier S. M. Gledhill, deputy commanding general for the Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq.

26 November 2007 Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America
See also:
Fact Sheet: U.S.-Iraq Declaration of Principles for Friendship and Cooperation

05 November 2007 Bush Says Turkey, U.S. To Expand Effort on Kurdish Terror Group  President Bush pledged to increase U.S. intelligence-sharing and security cooperation with Turkey to confront terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), following a recent deadly series of PKK cross-border attacks from northern Iraq.

02 November 2007 Provincial Reconstruction Teams Reconnecting Government in Iraq   Provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) are helping communities in one of Iraq’s most troubled regions to “reconnect government,” says U.S. diplomat and Anbar province team leader James Soriano.

01 November 2007Progress in Iraq Real, Momentum Growing, Odierno Says   Coalition and Iraqi troops are creating security in Iraq, and life is returning to normal for the vast majority of Iraqi citizens. But the momentum is not irreversible, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq said today.

05 October 2007 The U.S. Humanitarian Assistance for Displaced Iraqis  Since 2003, the U.S. Government has been the single largest contributor of humanitarian assistance for Iraqis. By the end of 2007, the USG will have provided almost $1 billion in humanitarian assistance since 2003 for Iraqis in Iraq and neighboring states.

18 September 2007 News Conference in London on Iraq General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker gave a news conference in London    Listen to audio.   Read transcript.

12 September 2007 Secretary of State Rice Interview on KARN with Dave Elswick  "...what is being done there [in Iraq] is historic and it's tough, but it will make us safer because when we have an Iraq that is stable and that is an ally in the war on terror in the middle of the Middle East, the United States is going to be safer."

10 September 2007 U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker are briefing Congress this week on their assessment of the security situation in Iraq.
  • Report (with charts) (PDF, 23 pages)
  • Ambassador Crocker's prepared statement (PDF, 9 pages)

05 September 2007 Meetings in Iraq Give Defense Secretary Gates Cause for Optimism  After attending meetings in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is more optimistic about the situation in the country, a Pentagon spokesman said today.Defence Secretary Gates left meetings with U.S. military and civilian leaders and Iraqi leaders convinced progress is being made.

04 September 2007 Provincial Reconstruction Teams Are Improving Lives in Iraq  Ramadi, the provincial capital of Iraq's Anbar province, with a population of about 400,000, was written off as lost by many, said Kristin Hagerstrom, team leader of the Ramadi Provincial Reconstruction Team. But all of that has changed and the city is showing new life, despite initial problems with infrastructure.

03 September 2007 President Bush Visits and Thanks Troops in Anbar Province  Speaking from Al-Anbar Province in Iraq on Labor Day, the President thanked the assembled troops for their sacrifice and bravery.

03 September 2007 President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Maliki and Iraqi Leaders

28 August 2007 Bush at American Legion Convention in Reno, Nevada  Remarks by the President to the 89th Annual National Convention of the American Legion.

28 August 2007 Defeating Extremists in the Middle East Essential to U.S. Security  President Bush explains why winning the fight in Iraq is the key to countering the ambitions of Al Qaeda and Iran.

28 August 2007 U.S. Contribs $30 Million to the UNHCR/UNICEF Joint Appeal  The United States Government is contributing $30 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Children's Fund Joint Appeal to Provide Educational Opportunities for Iraqi Children in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.

27 August 2007 President Bush Congratulates Iraqi Leaders on Agreement  The agreement begins to establish new power-sharing agreements, commits to supporting bottom-up security and political initiatives, and advances agreement among Iraq's leadership on several key legislative benchmarks.

25 August 2007 President's Radio Address  President Bush discusses the security situation in Iraq.

22 August 2007 President Bush's View on Iraq's Elected Government Consistent

23 August 2007 Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe on National Intelligence Estimate and the situation in Iraq

20 August 2007 First Phase of 'Landmine Impact Survey' of Iraq Completed  The first phase of a three-year, four million dollar “Landmine Impact Survey” of thirteen of Iraq’s eighteen provinces, has been completed. This Survey provides an interim blueprint for the Iraqi Government and international donors to clear the landmines, unexploded ordnance, and abandoned munitions left from past conflicts, including any residue left from coalition military operations.

14 August 2007 Coalition Forces Train Iraqi Marines in North Persian Gulf  Coalition forces are training Iraqi marines to take over the mission of providing security to Iraqi territorial waters in the North Persian Gulf. The Mobile Security Detachment 24 has been providing security for the platforms while simultaneously training Iraqi marines to eventually assume responsibility for the protection of Iraq's sea-based infrastructure.

30 July 2007 Education of Iraqi Refugee Children Focus of New Fund  It is a cliché that a country’s future depends on its children, but it is also true. And the U.S. and the U.N. are taking action to see that Iraqi children now living as refugees in host countries have access to educational opportunities.

30 July 2007 Iraq’s Rising Talent Showcased in Music and Dance Workshops  More than 300 of Iraq’s most talented performers shone together on one stage July 14-23, when the U.S. Embassy, in conjunction with the Houston-based nongovernmental organization American Voices, hosted the National Unity Performing and Visual Arts Academy in Erbil, Iraq.

19 July 2007 Iraq’s Political Healing Requires Time, Effort, U.S. Envoy Says  Political reconciliation in Iraq will take time and sustained U.S. support as Iraqi society sweeps away a 35-year legacy of tyranny, Ambassador Ryan Crocker told senators July 19.

14 July 2007 President's Radio Address  President Bush discusses the interim report to Congress on the situation in Iraq.

13 July 2007 Iraq Provincial Reconstruction Teams Helping Rebuild Nation  Military operations might dominate the headlines in Iraq, but a second, quiet surge of U.S.-led provincial reconstruction teams is helping local communities restore basic services, bridge the sectarian divide and achieve self-sufficiency.

12 July 2007 Press Conference by the President  President Bush provides an update on the situation in Iraq and briefs reporters on the report to Congress.

12 July 2007 Iraq Security Improvements Setting Stage for Reforms, Bush Says  The Iraqi government and coalition forces are making progress toward securing the country, laying the groundwork for future steps forward on political reconciliation and key reforms, President Bush says.

12 July 2007 Iraq Initial Benchmark Assessment Report

10 July 2007 Give Iraq Security Strategy a Chance, Says Bush  The surge of additional U.S. troops into Iraq has been completed and critics should give them time to implement the strategy designed to quell the insurgency, President Bush says. "I welcome a good, honest debate about the consequences of failure, the consequences of success in this war," Bush said in Cleveland. "But I believe that it's in this nation’s interests to give the commander a chance to fully implement his operations."

03 July 2007 Iran Training Iraqi Insurgent Groups, General Says  An elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard with ties to Hezbollah is training, funding and arming insurgents in Iraq to attack coalition and Iraqi forces and conduct other missions, says a senior U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, Iraq.

30 June 2007 Surge Strategy Helping Iraqis Protect Their Country, Bush Says  As the U.S. prepares to celebrate Independence Day, President Bush is citing "hopeful signs" of progress in reducing sectarian violence in Iraq. The president, in his weekly radio address to the American people June 30, also praised the bravery and sacrifice of U.S. forces helping the people of Iraq and Afghanistan defend democracy.

28 June 2007 Iraq Surge Showing Results, President Bush Says  The surge of thousands more U.S. troops into key areas of Iraq is beginning to show results, according to President Bush.

20 June 2007 U.S. Program Focuses on Education for Children of Iraqi Refugees  A new State Department-funded effort will focus on helping at least 100,000 Iraqi children of refugees from the violence in Iraq get back into school by fall, and a new summer readiness program will help those who need to prepare for regular school.

17 June 2007 U.S. Ambassador, General Discuss Effect of Troop Surge on Iraq  Violence in Iraq's capital city, Baghdad, and Anbar province has dropped since the recent U.S. troop surge, according to U.S. officials.

16 June 2007 Secretary Gates Makes Fourth Visit to Iraq To Discuss Progress  In his fourth visit to Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is meeting with senior U.S. military and Iraqi leaders to discuss the progress on reconciliation and confronting sectarian violence.

14 June 2007 U.N. Security Council Backs Multinational Force in Iraq  After reviewing the situation in Iraq, the Security Council June 13 extended the mandate of the U.S.-led Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF) and urged the international community to support Iraq in its pursuit of national reconciliation and economic development.

13 June 2007 U.S. Deplores Second Attack on Samarra Mosque  The United States deplores the latest attack on the al-Askari Mosque in Samarra and pledges "aggressive outreach" to help the Iraqi government prevent renewed outbreaks of sectarian violence, White House spokesman Tony Snow said June 13.

07 June 2007 U.S. Iraq-Afghanistan Nominee Supports Local Solutions  Problems in the Middle East and South Asia cannot be solved by military might alone, and an American-only solution will not succeed, says President Bush’s nominee to oversee daily coordination of government action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

07 June 2007 U.S. Iraq-Afghanistan Nominee Supports Local Solutions  Problems in the Middle East and South Asia cannot be solved by military might alone, and an American-only solution will not succeed, says President Bush’s nominee to oversee daily coordination of government action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

31 May 2007 Bush, Iraq’s Talabani Reaffirm Commitment To Meet Benchmarks  President Bush and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani reaffirmed their commitment to Iraqi national reconciliation at a White House meeting.

28 May 2007 Iran Must Halt Support for Militant Groups in Iraq, U.S. Says  Iraqi, Iranian and U.S. officials found "broad agreement" on overall policy and principles regarding "support for a secure, stable, democratic, federal Iraq, in control of its own security, at peace with its neighbors, "Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said following a meeting of all three parties May 28 in Baghdad, Iraq.

23 May 2007 Bush Cites al-Qaida's Effort on Base in Iraq   Helping Iraqis secure their country is central to winning the war against terrorism, says President Bush, who revealed intelligence that al-Qaida had intended to form a special unit in Iraq to plan future attacks on the United States and its allies.

22 May 2007 Inspector General Finds Progress, Problems in Iraq Rebuilding  Much has been accomplished in the effort to rebuild Iraq, but projects face tremendous challenges, according to Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen.

16 May 2007 Bush Names Army General as Senior Advisor for Iraq, Afghanistan  The White House announced May 15 that Bush had chosen Lieutenant General Douglas Lute to serve as assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan.

15 May 2007 Cheney Finds Iraqis in Agreement on Reconciliation Agenda  Vice President Dick Cheney wrapped up a weeklong trip to the Middle East May 14 with a cautiously optimistic assessment of the Iraqi government’s broad consensus on the challenges that it must overcome.

14 May 2007 United States, Iran Agree To Hold Talks on Iraq  Following on a brief exchange between U.S. and Iranian officials at the Iraq Neighbors’ Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Washington and Tehran have agreed to engage in ambassadorial-level discussions about the situation in Iraq.

10 May 2007 Bush Urges Patience with Iraq Plan  Following a briefing by top U.S. military and civilian leaders at the Pentagon, President Bush urged patience to allow sufficient time for the Iraq strategy to succeed.

09 May 2007 World Community Expects Unity from Iraqi Government, U.S. Says  Two recent international conferences in Egypt resulted in pledges of more than $30 billion in assistance to Iraq, as well as strong support for the success of the embattled Iraqi government, a senior U.S. diplomat says.

09 May 2007 Cheney Stresses Urgent Need for Progress to Iraqi Leaders  Vice President Cheney, in Baghdad, Iraq, urged Iraqi leaders to make progress on the political and security issues pending before the Iraqi government.

08 May 2007 U.S. Urges Iraq's Neighbors To Play Constructive Role  The U.S. wants Iraq’s neighbors to translate their stated support for a stable Iraq into actions that will help reduce the violence in that nation, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

03 May 2007 U.S. Admiral Fallon Sees Progress in Iraq, Urges Government Unity  The U.S. and Iraqi troop surge in Baghdad, Iraq, and Anbar province is making progress, but success requires political unity by Iraq’s government and quick results in economic programs, says the senior U.S. commander for the region.

03 May 2007 Rice Urges Broad International Participation in Iraq Compact  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, praising Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s agenda of national reconciliation, economic recovery and good governance, urged the international community to support Iraq’s efforts by participating in the International Compact for Iraq.

03 May 2007 Rice Meets with Syrian Foreign Minister at Iraq Conference  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on the margins of the Iraq Neighbors’ Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in the highest-level contact between U.S. and Syrian officials since Washington recalled its ambassador from Damascus in February 2005.

02 May 2007 U.S. Envoy to Iraq Sees Signs of Progress with Security Plan  The new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, says he deplores the physical and psychological damage done to Iraq since he last served in the country two years ago, but adds that the new Baghdad security plan is helping curtail much of the violence responsible for that damage.

02 May 2007 Egypt Conferences Support Iraqi National Reconciliation  The entire Middle East has a great deal at stake in the future of Iraq, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and she urged Iraq’s neighbors to demonstrate their support for efforts to stabilize the security situation when they participate in the Iraq Neighbors’ Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, May 4.

29 April 2007 Halt Flow of Arms and Foreign Fighters to Iraq, Rice Tells Iran  The most positive steps Iran could take to enhance Iraqi security would be to halt the flow of explosives and foreign fighters across Iraq's border and to stop supporting armed militia groups that are "killing innocent Iraqi citizens," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says.

26 April 2007 Progress of Iraq Surge To Be Assessed in September  Coalition forces in Iraq have had “some notable successes” in recent months, but the situation remains “exceedingly complex and very tough,” the senior U.S. commander in Iraq told Pentagon reporters April 26.

23 April 2007 Rice Looks Forward to Neighbors Conference on Iraq  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she looks forward to attending an international conference on Iraq in May to which Syria and Iran also have been invited, and in gauging participants' attitudes toward bringing stability to the region.

23 April 2007 Bush Cites Progress with Iraq Strategy  Although many challenges remain in Iraq, the new U.S. stability strategy is meeting expectations, President Bush says.

20 April 2007 U.S. Troop Levels in Iraq Depend on Political Progress  In an unannounced visit to Iraq, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Iraqi leaders to make political progress and speed up reconciliation between Sunnis and Shiites before U.S. troop levels are evaluated this summer.

20 April 2007 New U.S. Envoy to Iraq Expresses Optimism at Iraqi Determination  The new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, expressed optimism at the attitude of Iraqi citizens he has encountered during his first weeks in Baghdad, and he urged them to remain patient as the new security plan is implemented.

19 April 2007 New U.S. Military Chief in Middle East Urges Iraqi Unity  The new U.S. commander for the Middle East says he is “guardedly optimistic” about progress in Iraq but stresses that Iraqi leaders need to set aside narrow sectarian interests and build a government that represents and protects its people.

19 April 2007 Defense Secretary Gates Cites Concerns About Syria, Iran  Defense Secretary Robert Gates discussed prospects for reconciliation in Iraq, the Middle East peace process, disruptive Syrian activities in the region and Iran’s nuclear ambitions as part of his ongoing trip through the Middle East that included stops in Egypt, Israel and Iraq.

18 April 2007 U.S. Defense Secretary Optimistic on Iraq Neighbors Conference  Traveling in the Middle East, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates thanked Egypt for agreeing to host a major meeting of Iraq’s neighbors; in Jordan, he said the U.S. congressional debate on troops in Iraq has had a positive effect by showing the Baghdad government that the U.S. military commitment is not open-ended.

17 April 2007 U.S. Reaffirms Commitment To Assist Displaced Iraqis  The U.S. pledged its continued commitment to assist Iraqis fleeing sectarian violence and urged other countries to demonstrate a similar commitment during the opening session of a conference in Geneva on the humanitarian needs of Iraq refugees and internally displaced persons.

16 April 2007 Bush Urges Congressional Support for Iraq, Afghanistan Missions  President Bush says he looks forward to an upcoming meeting with congressional Democrats to find a way to pass a crucial $100 billion defense spending package for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

13 April 2007 U.S. General Calls on Iraqis To Stand Up Against Violence  A top U.S. general urged the Iraqi people to "stand up and reject" insurgent violence in the wake of an April 12 suicide bombing of Iraq’s parliament inside Baghdad’s heavily guarded "Green Zone."

12 April 2007 Parliament Attack Condemned as Strike Against Iraqi Democracy  President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other U.S. officials strongly condemned a suicide bombing April 12 in the Iraqi Council of Representatives as the work of terrorists seeking to undermine the political will of Iraqi voters by targeting their elected representatives.

10 April 2007 U.S. Official Cites Progress with Iraq Security Plan  A senior U.S. official sees positive signs in Iraq following implementation of the military surge strategy, but he cautions that the drop in violence must be sustained over a long period of time to allow the Iraqi government to re-establish political and economic stability.

03 April 2007 U.S. Mission in Iraq Must Succeed, Says Bush  President Bush pledged continued support for the Iraqi people as they struggle to stabilize their country. At a White House briefing, Bush discussed the Iraq security plan, Iran's nuclear program and the plight of 15 British sailors and marines being held by Iran.

30 March 2007 U.S. Prepared To Accept Additional Iraqi Refugees  The U.S. is prepared to increase significantly the number of Iraqi refugees it admits as the civil unrest in Iraq drives a greater number of people from their homes.

29 March 2007 U.S. Helps Reopen Iraqi Industrial Facilities  The U.S. Department of Defense, in partnership with the Iraqi government, is working to reopen idle Iraqi industrial facilities and connect them to international markets to create jobs and revitalize the country’s economy, says a senior Defense official.

28 March 2007 Bush Rejects Restrictions on Iraq Operations  President Bush says the U.S. is honoring its commitment to confront insurgent forces in Iraq and is standing by the Iraqi people as they build a democratic nation.

27 March 2007 Iraq Making Political, Economic Progress, U.S. Official Says  Iraq’s elected leaders are making progress toward political reconciliation, economic development and improved relations with neighbors, says a top U.S. official.

20 March 2007 U.S. General Cites Signs of Progress in Iraq  U.S. troops continue surging into Baghdad, Iraq, where hundreds of Iraqi families are returning to their homes, a senior U.S. military official says, adding that coalition forces in Afghanistan are preparing for Taliban attacks against Central Asian New Year’s celebrations.

19 March 2007 Bush Sees Hopeful Signs on Fourth Anniversary of Iraq Mission  President Bush says he sees hopeful signs in the struggle to secure Iraq and urges continued support for the Iraqi people as they work to secure their country and build a democracy.

18 March 2007 U.S. Troop Surge Aiding Security Efforts in Iraq, Officials Say  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says he sees early indications the U.S. troop surge in Iraq can succeed in stabilizing the security situation there, but that a firm judgment may not be possible for months.

16 March 2007 U.S. Envoy to United Nations Reports Progress in Iraq  Acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Alejandro Wolff highlighted numerous areas of progress in Iraq over the past three months as he presented the Multinational Force-Iraq’s (MNF-I) quarterly report to the U.N. Security Council.

15 March 2007 Iraqi Planning Minister Courts Arab-American Investment  Iraqi Planning Minister Ali Baban urged Arab-American business leaders to seek economic opportunities in Iraq and said his government is working to make the country a stable environment for investment.

12 March 2007 Syria, U.S. Exchange Views on Iraqi Refugees  The State Department’s top envoy on refugee issues met with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad in Damascus for what U.S. officials described as a "useful exchange of views" on Iraqi refugees living in Syria.

10 March 2007 U.S. Prepared to Work with All Iraq's Neighbors, Envoy Says  U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad confirmed the United States' willingness to work with any nation that supports the goal of a secure, stable and democratic Iraq during the March 10 Iraq Neighbors Conference in Baghdad. The conference brought together representatives from all of Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria.

09 March 2007 "Economic Surge" Accompanies Troop Boost in Iraq, U.S. Envoy Says  An "economic surge" is accompanying the ongoing U.S. troop surge in Iraq, and the country could see results from this increased activity within a few months, a senior U.S. diplomat said in Baghdad.

08 March 2007 Coalition Commander Says U.S. Military Surge Will Peak in June  Plans to secure Iraq’s capital and outlying provinces are proceeding, but it will be early June before all of the additional U.S. combat forces and military police are in place, says the commander of multinational forces in Iraq.

07 March 2007 U.S. Might Raise Concerns with Iran About Explosives  U.S. delegates to a meeting in Baghdad, Iraq, concerning the future of Iraq could take the opportunity to raise concerns with the Iranian delegation over Iran’s support and supply of groups and networks using explosive devices against U.S. and coalition forces.

06 March 2007 Iraqis Being Processed for Refugee Status  Processing of Iraqi refugees for resettlement already has begun, the State Department's top refugee policy official says. Ellen Sauerbrey, assistant secretary of state for population, refugees, and migration, says the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has registered about 80,000 displaced Iraqis, including in Syria, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt.

06 March 2007 Bush Cites Progress in Iraq  Iraqis and coalition allies are making “gradual but important progress” in securing the country and building democracy, said President Bush.

28 February 2007 U.S. Supports Involving Iran, Syria in Iraq Regional Meeting  The United States supports and will participate in the Iraqi government’s initiative to invite Iran and Syria to a regional conference, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during a congressional hearing February 27 to discuss emergency funding for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

27 February 2007 Secretary Rice's Statement on Iraq Meetings  The government of Iraq is preparing for an expanded neighbors' meeting, first at the sub-ministerial level, that will take place in Baghdad in the first half of March. Invitees will include Iraq's immediate neighbors, as well as representatives from other regional states, multilateral organizations, and the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

21 February 2007 Reducing Coalition Troops in Southern Iraq Is Sign of Success  The White House calls British plans to reduce troop levels in Iraq another sign of progress in the coalition’s strategy to strengthen Iraqi security forces.

17 February 2007 Rice Begins Middle East Trip with Surprise Stop in Baghdad  The joint U.S.-Iraqi security push against militant factions in Baghdad is bringing "a new hope and a new optimism" to the Iraqi capital, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during an unannounced stop there as she begins a round of visits in the Middle East.

16 February 2007 House Adopts Resolution Disapproving New Iraq Policy  The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a nonbinding resolution reiterating congressional support for U.S. forces serving in Iraq, but disapproving President Bush’s plan to deploy an additional 21,500 troops there.

16 February 2007 U.S. Seeking To Disrupt Weapon Supply Networks in Iraq  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says every effort is being made to disrupt the supply network of weapons -– including lethal hand-tooled explosives -- being used to kill coalition soldiers in Iraq.

14 February 2007 Bush Says Iranian Group "Certainly" Providing Weapons in Iraq  President Bush said Iran’s al-Quds Force, a branch of the country’s Revolutionary Guards, is "certainly" providing weapons to groups in Iraq that are targeting coalition forces and said the United States "will deal" with networks and agents involved in their movement and deployment.

14 February 2007 State’s Dobriansky Outlines Strategies To Help Iraqi Refugees  The best way the United States and other countries can assist displaced Iraqis fleeing violence in their country is to help re-establish a stable security environment that will allow them to return home, according to Paula Dobriansky, under secretary of state for democracy and global affairs.

09 February 2007 Baghdad Security Unfolds with a Unified Iraqi Command Structure  Days into the implementation of a new security plan, a senior U.S military official said Iraqi forces are meeting their commitments amidst signs of early progress toward breaking the cycle of sectarian violence in Iraq’s capital.

08 February 2007 Civil-Affairs Specialists Urgently Needed in Iraq   In a move to speed up Iraqi self-reliance, the State Department has asked the Pentagon for a temporary loan of reservists to staff the growing number of provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) dedicated to stabilization efforts throughout Iraq.

07 February 2007 U.S. Developing Backup Plans if Iraq Surge Does Not Show Results  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he does not consider the new troop surge to Iraq the “last chance” for stability in the violence-torn country and that he is developing backup plans if the surge does not achieve its expected results.

03 February 2007 Iraqi Forces Leading Operations North of Baghdad, Officer Says  Since September 2006, Iraqi army and police, supported by U.S. forces, have steadily taken greater responsibility for security operations in Salah ad Din Province north of Baghdad, according to a U.S. combat brigade commander based in the region.

02 February 2007 New U.S. Intelligence Report Focuses on Iraq Instability  The U.S. National Intelligence Estimate of the Iraq situation indicates instability is still the main security challenge facing the fledgling Iraqi government and the U.S.-led coalition forces.

01 February 2007 United States Warns Iran to Stop Arming Iraqi Militias  Iran must stop arming Iraq’s Shiite insurgents, says Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns.

29 January 2007 Securing Iraq’s Capital Is Vital, National Security Advisor Says  By U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley

26 January 2007 United States Might Accelerate Troop Surge in Iraq  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. troop surge to Iraq might accelerate, and he warned that any foreign fighters seeking to harm coalition troops will be targeted. He also said he is optimistic about the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.

25 January 2007 State’s Satterfield Outlines Plans To Rebuild Iraq  The U.S. plans to improve the distribution of economic reconstruction funds in Iraq as part of a strategy to support military operations aimed at securing neighborhoods from insurgents and sectarian violence, officials tell a Senate Committee.

24 January 2007 Members of Congress Question Iraq Plan, Seek Alternatives  Senate leaders from both major U.S. political parties are crafting resolutions that formally express concern over President Bush’s plan to increase U.S. troop levels in Iraq.

23 January 2007 Baghdad Security Tops U.S. Agenda, General Petraeus Tells Senators  President Bush's new strategic direction in Iraq -- involving the deployment of additional U.S. Army and Marine brigades aimed, in part, at securing Baghdad -- is now the best plan for stopping that troubled nation's slide into sectarian chaos, Lieutenant General David Petraeus told senators.

17 January 2007 Provincial Reconstruction Teams Building Local Iraqi Leadership  Unlike other international aid programs operating in Iraq that focus on infrastructure projects, provincial reconstruction teams are designed to expand the capacity of Iraqis to deliver essential services to their own people, helping to establish a permanent mid-level bureaucracy that will be able to respond to needs well after international assistance workers have gone.

16 January 2007 Pentagon Chief Says Iran Seeks To Exploit U.S. Exposure in Iraq  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he recommended diplomatic engagement with Iran in 2004, but added that the Islamic republic today does not seek constructive cooperation and instead is attempting to exploit U.S. difficulties in neighboring Iraq.

13 January 2007 Bush Details New Strategy for Securing, Stabilizing Iraq  Speaking in his weekly radio address to the American public, Bush advocated focusing on four main areas: securing the capital, Baghdad; fighting al-Qaida in the Iraqi province of Anbar; holding the Iraqi government to announced benchmarks; and expanding U.S. military and diplomatic efforts to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East.

11 January 2007 U.S. Officials Say Troop Boost Relies on Iraq Doing Its Part  The plan to augment the U.S. military presence in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, and Anbar province will take place in phases and could be reconsidered if the Iraqi government does not keep its promised security commitments, top military leaders told Congress.

11 January 2007 Members of Congress Differ on New U.S. Troop Commitment to Iraq  Reactions from members of Congress to President Bush’s new strategy for the war in Iraq, including the commitment of 21,500 additional troops, ranged from frustrated rejection to enthusiastic acceptance.

11 January 2007 Rice Pledges More Civilian Advisers To Assist Iraq  President Bush’s new strategy for Iraq is much broader than the central proposal of increasing the U.S. military presence in Baghdad, Iraq, in an attempt to restore order to the Iraqi capital, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a Senate committee.

11 January 2007 Rice Appoints Assistance Coordinator as Part of U.S. Iraq Plan  The Bush administration’s military strategy in Iraq will be “fully supported and integrated” with civilian and diplomatic efforts, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, and she appointed retired Ambassador Timothy Carney to oversee U.S. reconstruction and development projects in the country.

10 January 2007 President Bush’s Address to the Nation on Strategy in Iraq ... President Bush said the deployment of more than 20,000 additional U.S. forces in support of an Iraqi plan to bring security “will change America’s course in Iraq, and help us succeed in the fight against terror.”
  • White House Fact Sheet: The New Way Forward in Iraq
  • Iraq Strategy review [PDF 11 pages]

10 January 2007 White House Background Briefing on President Bush’s Speech on Iraq

09 January 2007 Rice Trip Planned As “Extended Conversation” on Mideast, Iraq  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be visiting the Middle East and Europe beginning January 12 for consultations with regional leaders on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iraq and other issues.

08 January 2007 Pentagon’s Gates Recommends Changes in U.S. Commanders for Iraq  With President Bush preparing to make a major policy speech on Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert Gates set the stage by recommending two new U.S. military commanders for the region.

13 December 2006 Bush Discusses Iraq Policy Changes with Pentagon Chiefs  President Bush continued his series of Iraq policy discussions with senior advisers, meeting with key Pentagon officials for what he called a “candid and fruitful” discussion about how to achieve security in Iraq.

12 December 2006 Bush Consults Iraq’s Sunni Vice President on Policy Shifts  President Bush met with Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi December 12 to discuss the security situation in Iraq and ways the United States can help the Iraqi government achieve stability.

11 December 2006 Bush Discusses “New Way Forward” in Iraq at State Department  President Bush spoke of charting “a new way forward in Iraq” after meeting with State Department officials to discuss developments on the ground in that nation.

08 December 2006 Senate Hearing Shows Differing Views on Iraq Study Group Report  Members of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which issued a report recommending significant changes in the U.S. policy toward Iraq, have emphasized the need for political unity behind the Iraq strategy.

09 December 2006 Bush Says Success in Iraq Primarily Depends Upon Iraqis  President Bush said he agrees with the Iraq Study Group’s (ISG) assessment that the goal of a unified democratic and peaceful Iraq primarily depends upon “the actions of the Iraqi people” due to “the current situation” there.

07 December 2006 Bush and Britain’s Blair Consider Course Ahead in Middle East   President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair renewed their commitment to moderates and reformers who work for democracy across the broader Middle East. See also: Transcript

06 December 2006 Bush Says He Will Take Iraq Report Seriously in Deliberations  President Bush welcomed the report of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, saying his administration would take seriously the group’s recommendations for revising U.S. policies in Iraq.

06 December 2006 Iraq Study Group Report: Executive Summary
The Report of the Iraq Study Group is available on several websites including those of the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Center for Strategic and International Studies

05 December 2006 All Options on the Table for Iraq, Defense Nominee Says  If confirmed as secretary of defense, Robert Gates said his top priority would be to assist the president in charting a new course in Iraq. He also warned of a regional conflagration should U.S. efforts fail.

04 December 2006 Bush Meets with Iraqi Shiite Cleric Abdul Aziz al-Hakim  President Bush met with Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the head of Iraq’s largest Shiite party, to discuss the importance of reconciliation between Iraq’s ethnic and sectarian groups.

02 December 2006 Bush, Iraqi Leader Agreed To Accelerate Security Forces Training  President Bush says he and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki have agreed on the need to accelerate the training of Iraqi security forces as a means of empowering Iraq’s democratic government to stem the violence in the country.

03 December 2006 U.S. Reviewing Tactics in Iraq, Not Goals, Security Advisor Says   President Bush is conducting a broad review of how U.S. policy should adapt to new circumstances in Iraq, but the U.S. is not changing its fundamental goal of helping establish a democratic Iraq that can defend itself against terrorism and sectarian violence, according to National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley.

30 November 2006 Bush, Iraq’s Maliki To Speed Transfer of Security to Iraqis   President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, after their meeting in Amman, Jordan, pledged to accelerate the transfer of security responsibilities from the U.S.-led coalition forces to the Iraqi government.

29 November 2006 Leaders Remain Focused on Developing Iraqi Security Capability   Much of the discussion between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Amman, Jordan, will focus on how best to improve the Iraqi government’s capability to deal with sectarian violence through improved security measures, as well as economic incentives that would benefit all Iraqis.

29 November 2006 U.S. General Says Joint Chiefs' Iraq Study Is Normal Process   The Joint Chiefs of Staff have been conducting deliberations on U.S. strategy in Iraq since September, calling on the opinions of recently returned mid-level commanders as part of the process, says Marine General Peter Pace.

28 November 2006 Bush Blames Iraq’s Sectarian Violence on al-Qaida  President Bush acknowledges that al-Qaida militants sparked a period of sectarian violence in Iraq with the February bombing of the Shiite Askariyya Mosque in Samarra, and says he looks forward to his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to discuss strategies for overcoming the violence.

28 November 2006 U.N. Extends Multinational Iraq Force for One Year   The decision of the U.N. Security Council to extend the mandate of the Multinational Force in Iraq is an important show of support for the country, said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.

20 November 2006 United States Welcomes Dialogue Among Iraq’s Neighbors  Iran’s offer to help the Iraqi government curb terrorist and sectarian attacks is welcome -- if it means that Iran finally intends to discontinue its own contribution toward continuing violence, a U.S. State Department spokesman says. “There have been positive statements from the Iranian government about wishing to play a positive role in Iraq,” department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said November 20, but “those statements haven't been backed up by action.”

16 November 2006 U.S. Officials Testify Before Congress on Iraq Policies  A vigorous government debate over U.S. policy in Iraq is taking shape as the top U.S. commander in the Middle East and the State Department's Iraq coordinator testified before congressional committees a week after the Democratic Party won large electoral gains in the U.S. congressional elections.

16 November 2006 Washington Leaders Await Findings of Independent Iraq Study Group  U.S. policy in Iraq will likely be influenced by a much anticipated independent report being prepared by a bipartisan commission of former U.S. officials, and many U.S. leaders are discussing the possibility of involving all of Iraq’s neighbors in talks to provide support for Iraq’s political reconciliation.

13 November 2006 U.S. Volunteers Donate Books To Bolster Education in Iraq  Two volunteers in the U.S. are spearheading a nonprofit effort to bring urgently needed books and educational supplies to higher education institutions in Iraq.

08 November 2006 Rumsfeld Resigns; Bush Names Former CIA Director as Replacement  President Bush, responding to concerns expressed by American voters in November 7 midterm elections, has accepted the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and has nominated former CIA Director Robert M. Gates to replace him.

05 November 2006 Bush Calls Saddam's Trial Major Achievement for Iraq's Democracy   Satement by President Bush regarding the verdict issued by the Iraqi High Tribunal against Saddam Hussein.

05 November 2006 Khalilzad Calls Verdict in Saddam Hussein Case "Milestone"  Statement by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad on Verdicts Issued by the Iraqi High Tribunal.

05 November 2006 Saddam Verdict Step Toward Just Society, U.S. Officials Say  The verdicts handed down by the Iraqi High Tribunal against Saddam Hussein and seven other former regime officials are a "milestone" in the country's progress toward building a free society based on the rule of law, U.S. officials say.

04 November 2006 Rice Reaffirms International Compact for Iraq   The U.S. has long stressed a multilateral, regional approach to Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says, citing U.S. support for the International Compact with Iraq, which was launched at the U.N. earlier this year.

02 November 2006 Coalition Supports Iraqi Prime Minister's Plan to Expand Army   U.S.-led coalition forces call Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s latest proposal to expand the Iraqi army by an additional 30,000 soldiers another important step on the country’s path toward self-sufficiency.

31 October 2006 U.S., Iraqi Forces Reopen Baghdad Checkpoints  Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s order for coalition forces to reopen strategic checkpoints around the Sadr City neighborhood in Baghdad, Iraq, is an example of the government’s commitment to confronting the political and security challenges facing the new Iraq, says White House spokesman Tony Snow.

28 October 2006 President Bush Greets Troops in Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina

29 October 2006 Effort Under Way To Shift Security Task to Iraqis, Khalilzad Says   A newly established joint committee will work to speed the transfer of security responsibilities in Iraq to the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad says.

28 October 2006 Bush, Maliki Reaffirm Commitment to Democratic Iraq   President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki have issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to “the security and prosperity of a democratic Iraq and the global fight against terrorism which affects all our citizens.”

26 October 2006 U.S. Adjusts Tactics, Maintains Basic Goal in Iraq, Rice Says  The U.S. continually is adapting its tactics in response to new challenges in Iraq, but it remains committed to the goal of helping the Iraqis achieve stability and security, according to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

26 October 2006 Rumsfeld Reaffirms Goal of Helping Iraqis Govern Themselves   The U.S. is not taking sides in Iraq’s sectarian fighting, but coalition forces must continue to protect the Iraqi people as their government works to create a multiethnic, multisectarian democracy that opposes extremism, said U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

25 October 2006 Bush Reaffirms Support for Iraq   President Bush said that although the U.S. is adapting its military tactics in Iraq, its objective remains unchanged: a democratic Iraq capable of defending and governing its people while becoming a regional ally in the War on Terror.

25 October 2006 Press Conference by the President  Preident Bush says the U.S. will continue to adapt its tactics in support of the Iraqi government's effort to build a new democracy capable of defending, governing and sustaining itself and becoming a valued regional ally in the global war on terrorism.

24 October 2006 U.S. Officials Outline Goals, Strategy for Success in Iraq   Coalition and Iraqi government forces still can succeed in creating a democratic Iraq despite high levels of violence there, says U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who, along with the senior American military commander in Iraq, outlined international goals and strategies.

22 October 2006 U.S. Helping Iraqis Unite, Defend Themselves, Bush Says   Success in Iraq will depend on the Iraqis' ability to defend themselves and their government's ability to make "the difficult decisions necessary to unite the country," President Bush says.

21 October 2006 Bush Says Rise in Iraq Attacks Partly Due to Military Operations  President Bush said the increase in the number of violent attacks in Iraq is due in part to recent joint operations by coalition and Iraqi forces against al-Qaida and other fighters in Baghdad.

19 October 2006 Coalition Supports Iraq Security Forces During Ramadan Violence  Insurgent, terrorist and sectarian attacks continue as Iraq observes Ramadan, but the Iraqi government and its coalition allies remain committed to the mission of building a better future, says the chief spokesman for Multi-National Force – Iraq.

13 October 2006 U.S. Questions High Estimate of Iraq Civilian Casualties   U.S. authorities and some outside observers have voiced strong doubts about the accuracy of a new independent study that suggests the Iraqi death toll is roughly half a million, although they admit that tens of thousands of people have been killed in Iraq since U.S.-led forces overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

12 October 2006 Rice Calls on Iraqi Political Leaders To Overcome Differences  The U.S. remains committed to helping Iraq develop a stable, secure, democratic political system, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, but the Iraqis must overcome their political differences and rein in sectarian violence.

11 October 2006 Bush Praises Iraqi Government for Efforts To Address Violence  President Bush acknowledged during a press conference that the level of violence in Iraq is troubling, but said the Iraqi government is taking important steps to address the problem.

10 October 2006 Reconciliation Progressing in Iraq, Coalition Officials Say  Despite ongoing violence in Iraq, the country's new government continues to make progress toward national reconciliation and building the democratic institutions essential to long-term success, coalition officials say.

05 October 2006 Rice Makes Unannounced Visit to Baghdad  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad, Iraq, to consult with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki about his efforts to achieve national reconciliation between the country’s various ethnic and sectarian groups.

01 October 2006 Defeating Insurgents in Iraq Will Take Lengthy Effort, Rumsfeld Says  Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sees victory over insurgents in Iraq as requiring a long-term effort -- but one that the Iraqis themselves rather than the United States and coalition allies will have to expend.

28 September 2006 Defense Department Outlines Links Between Iraq, Iran  The deputy chief of staff of intelligence for multinational forces in Iraq says the coalition continues its effort to block foreign influence—including that of neighboring Iran.

25 September 2006 Iraq on Track for Meeting Police Goals, U.S. General Says  One indication of Iraq’s advance toward self-sufficiency is the progress being made in building strong, capable national and local law enforcement agencies – essential to guaranteeing the country’s long-term security, a coalition officer says.

22 September 2006 Iraq's Insurgency Must Be Overcome by More than Military Power  The commander of multinational forces in Baghdad, Iraq, says the insurgency and sectarian violence in the Iraqi capital city cannot be quelled solely by military means. Army Major General James Thurman told Pentagon reporters that political and economic factors are also critical to the effort to restore security in Baghdad.

20 September 2006 Iraqi, Coalition Forces Prepare for Expected Ramadan Violence  Iraqi army and national police units, supported by their coalition allies, have conducted more than 600 security operations in the past two weeks as part of an effort to disrupt plans by enemies of the new Iraq to launch attacks against civilians during the upcoming observance of the Muslim holy month Ramadan.

15 September 2006 Economic, Political Improvements Will Help Reduce Iraqi Violence  Economic and political conditions have to improve throughout Iraq, including in the long restive al-Anbar province, says the commander of the Multinational Corps in Iraq.

14 September 2006 U.S. Envoy Updates United Nations on Progress, Challenges in Iraq  The international community must redouble its commitment to the people of Iraq to support their continued progress toward a prosperous democratic future and to help them face the challenges ahead, says Ambassador John Bolton, U.S. representative to the U.N.

11 September 2006 Iraqi Security Forces Chart Country's Course to Self-Sufficiency  Iraqi Security Forces’ continued improvement is setting the country on a "firm path to self-sufficiency," top Defense Department officials told members of Congress September 11.

10 September 2006 Iraqi Freedom Vital to Defeating Terrorism, Rice Declares  Saddam Hussein represented a nexus between terrorism and violence that would have made progress toward a better future for the Middle East and the world difficult to imagine if he had remained in power, said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

07 September 2006 Iraq Taking Command of Its Armed Forces  Coalition forces formally initiated a handover of Iraq’s military to its prime minister in a September 7 ceremony that marked yet another milestone in the country’s long and challenging process of building a democratic nation.

07 September 2006 "Seeds Are Being Sown for Long-Term Success" in Iraq, U.S. Officer Says   Op-ed by Major General William Caldwell IV, who is the senior spokesman for the Multi-National Force - Iraq.

06 September 2006 Iraqi Government To Start Transfer of Military Authority  On September 7, the Iraqi government will reach yet another milestone by taking control of its army’s ground forces command structure as well as Iraq’s air and naval forces, a coalition forces spokesman reports.

02 September 2006 Bush Says Victory in Iraq Critical to Security of Civilized World  President Bush said the United States is using “every element of national power” to defeat terrorism and warned that a premature withdrawal of American troops from Iraq only will cause the United States to face terrorists in the streets of its own cities.

31 August 2006 Iraqi Security Forces Gaining Strength, Says Coalition Commander   Because Iraqi army and national police units are proving increasingly effective against terrorism and sectarian violence, Multi-National Force – Iraq’s top commanding general predicts that they soon will lead security operations nationwide.

30 August 2006 Rice Defines "Successful Outcome" in Iraq  Security, democratic institutions and the use of politics – not violence – to resolve differences, are the main criteria for a successful outcome of the war in Iraq, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

29 August 2006 U.S. Attorney General Lauds Rebuilding of Iraqi Legal Institutions  The high-profile trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is a top international news item, but building Iraq’s capacity to hold such a trial is a story in itself. U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales traveled to Iraq to meet and commend those whose hard work has helped rebuild and maintain Iraq’s justice system.

29 August 2006 Coalition Helps Iraqis Build Strong National Defense  Iraqi security forces are building a modern national defense while simultaneously defending their country from attack, thanks to support from coalition advisers embedded with Iraqi army and police units, top U.S. military officials say.

28 August 2006 Baghdad Security Plan Progressing, Says Coalition Spokesman  Violence in Baghdad, Iraq, has been cut in half in the past month, thanks to "Operation Together Forward," the Iraqi-planned and led initiative to target security threats to the city, says coalition forces spokesman Army Major General William Caldwell.

25 August 2006 Violence in Baghdad Down 41 Percent, Says Coalition Colonel  The past two weeks have seen a 41 percent decline in violent attacks across Baghdad, Iraq, according to a top coalition officer supporting Iraqi forces.

24 August 2006 "Battle of Baghdad" Will Decide Future of Iraq, Says U.S. Envoy  An Op-ed by Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, which was published in the August 23 edition of The Wall Street Journal.

22 August 2006 Security in Baghdad Improving, Say Coalition Officials  Iraq’s security situation is gradually improving, says the Coalition Force’s top leadership. "We’ve seen a positive trend over the past five weeks," said U.S. Army General George Casey, commander of the Multi-National Force – Iraq in an interview with National Public Radio. "The operations we’ve been doing have had a positive impact."

21 August 2006 Iraqi Army To Take Full Control of Troop Division in September   A significant shift in the Iraqi army’s command and control structure will occur September 3 when it will take full control of its 8th Army Division. U.S. Army Brigadier General Dana Pittard, who is in charge of the Iraq Assistance Group, told reporters via videoconference that this is more than a symbolic development. Any support that coalition units might offer after this transition first would have to be coordinated through the Iraqi army’s Iraqi Ground Forces Command, he said.

18 August 2006 Iraqis' Trust in Their Forces Key to Lasting Security  Iraqi army and police units are gaining the trust and support of area residents in one of Baghdad’s toughest neighborhoods, prompting optimism from U.S. Army Colonel Michael Beech of Multi-National Division Baghdad.

16 August 2006 Al-Qaida in Iraq Incites Sectarian Violence, Says U.S. General  Remnants of al-Qaida in Iraq are among the "primary instigators" of the rising tide of sectarian violence, says a top spokesman for Multi-National Force – Iraq. "Al-Qaida in Iraq realizes [the] killing of innocent Iraqi civilians has damaged their public support," U.S. Army Major General William Caldwell told journalists at a press briefing in Baghdad, Iraq.

15 August 2006 Iraqis Must Reject Sectarian Violence, U.S. General Says  The Iraqi people must join together to reject sectarian violence, says Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "The Shiite and Sunni leaders are going to have to love their kids more than they hate each other, so they can go about building their country," Pace told reporters while en route to Iraq.

10 August 2006 U.S. Ambassador Condemns Attack on Shi'a Shrine in Najaf  U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad condemned the August 10 suicide attack against Shi’a Islam’s holiest shrine, the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq. The attack killed at least 35 people and injured more than 120.

08 August 2006 U.S. Announces Security Transfer for Two Northern Iraqi Provinces  Iraq’s 4th Army Division officially assumed lead responsibility for security operations in two northern Iraqi provinces, announced the the U.S ambassador to Iraq and the commander of coalition forces

05 August 2006 Iraq's "Difficult Transition" Depends on U.S. Support   With the "turbulent" Iraqi transition from dictatorship to democracy, the United States’ best course, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, is to continue to provide security and help with reconstruction in order to give Iraqis "a chance to achieve what they clearly are all trying to achieve."

02 August 2006 Despite Challenges, Iraqi Authorities Act To Stabilize Country  Terrorists will continue to hide behind innocents and stage attacks calculated to maximize media coverage and public outcry, but they will not weaken the coalition’s resolve to defeat them, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told journalists at a Pentagon press briefing.

02 August 200 U.S. Official Says Violence, Corruption Hinder Iraq Rebuilding  Despite some progress, violence and corruption continue to thwart reconstruction efforts in Iraq, says Stuart Bowen, the U.S. special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.

01 August 2006 U.S., Iraq Sign Agricultural Improvement Agreement  The U.S. and Iraq have agreed to work together to strengthen Iraq's agricultural sector by boosting Iraq's farm extension system. Addressing reporters by conference call from Iraq, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said improving the country's food-production sector is "fundamental" to Iraq's economic recovery. The agricultural sector is the second largest contributor to Iraq's national economy and employs 25 percent of Iraq's workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

28 July 2006 Coalition Works with Iraqi Security Force To Enforce Rule of Law   A U.S. military security trainer says most of the Iraqis he has encountered acknowledge the need for coalition support "until they can get their house in order."

26 July 2006 Iraqi Prime Minister Sees Iraq as Central to War on Terror  Iraq is the central battle that will determine the outcome of the War on Terror, according to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, and it is the responsibility of all liberal democracies to support Iraq’s struggle to overcome the forces seeking to tear it apart.

25 July 2006 Bush, Iraq's Al-Maliki Agree to Boost Baghdad Security  President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced plans to enhance security forces in Baghdad in an effort to stem the growing violence in the Iraqi capital.

24 July 2006 Iraqis Marshalling Resources To Secure Baghdad  Any armed group contributing to the violence in Iraq's capital, regardless of motivation, will be brought to justice, says a top spokesman of Multi-National Force - Iraq.

23 July 2006 Bush, Iraqi Leader Expected To Review Baghdad Security Plan   President Bush's meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Iraq July 25 will be an opportunity for the leaders to evaluate progress in the areas of security, political reconciliation and economic reform in Iraq, according to a senior administration official.

13 July 2006 U.S. Envoy Sees New Iraqi Identity Emerging  Iraq is undergoing a difficult period of simultaneous state building and nation building, according to U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who remains optimistic about the country’s future given recent developments in the political sphere.

12 July 2006 Iraqis Invested in Building a New Future, Rumsfeld Says  The greatest success of coalition forces in Iraq lies in helping its people to build a future for their country, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told U.S. troops during a visit to Balad, Iraq, July 12.

11 July 2006 U.S. Envoy Khalilzad Lays Out Iraq Strategy  U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said the most critical issue in Iraq now is controlling sectarian violence. "The struggle for the future of Iraq is vital for the future of the world," he told a large crowd at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

10 July 2006 U.S. Helping Rebuild Iraq Despite Terrorists' Efforts  Coalition forces are working closely with Iraqi authorities to rebuild the country’s schools, energy infrastructure and water and sanitation systems. U.S. Army Major General William McCoy, commander the Gulf Regional Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has played a major role in efforts led by the U.S. State Department to revitalize Iraq, attributed the sharp decline in living standards to the lack of attention given to proper maintenance and operations standards for Iraq’s key facilities.

10 July 2006 Iraq Must Stop Sectarian Violence, Says U.S. Intelligence Chief   The highest-ranking U.S. intelligence official says the Iraqi government’s single most important task is to bring sectarian violence under control. Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte told a gathering of American business representatives that stopping the ongoing violence is at the top of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s list. This must be the highest priority for the Iraq government, he said.

07 July 2006 Bush Says U.S. Will Achieve Objectives in Iraq  President Bush said the U.S. will achieve its objective of ensuring that Iraq is a free country, able to govern, defend and sustain itself, but only if it rejects calls to establish artificial timetables for withdrawal of U.S. troops.

06 July 2006 U.S. Envoy Briefs President Bush on Situation in Iraq   U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad met with President Bush to brief him on the situation in Iraq, providing what the president characterized as a "realistic" report. "On the one hand, he said they've got a good government -- goal-oriented people who are working to achieve certain objectives," Bush said.

05 July 2006 U.S. Investigating Iraqi Civilian Abuse Allegations   The U.S. military is committed to open, complete investigations and full accountability for any soldiers found to be mistreating Iraqi civilians, Army Major General William Caldwell told journalists in a press briefing from Baghdad, Iraq.

29 June 2006 Iraq Marks Two Years of Sovereignty, Progress   Iraq, which is marking two years of sovereignty, has achieved a great deal in that time, a top coalition forces spokesman said.

28 June 2006 Iraqi Security Forces Making Significant Progress   The new Iraqi security forces are making significant progress and are on track to have most of the administrative systems required to field even more robust operations in place by the end of the year, says a top coalition general.

20 June 2006 Syria, Iran Must Do More to Keep Foreign Fighters Out of Iraq   Syria and Iran are not doing enough to stop foreign fighters from entering Iraq, Ambassador John Bolton says. In a report to the U.N. Security Council, Bolton said the international community, and especially Syria and Iran, must prevent non-Iraqi combatants from infiltrating Iraq; must end material and financial support for those opposing the new Iraqi government and support Iraq's sovereign government and provide assistance.

16 June 2006 Iraqi Forces Seen Taking Back Baghdad   Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s first priority is to secure the capital, and Iraqi security forces, supported by their coalition allies, are stepping up to the challenge, says a U.S. Army general.

15 June 2006 U.S. Envoy Bolton Calls on Iraq's Neighbors To Help Stop Attacks  U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton called on Syria and Iran to stop aiding groups that oppose the new Iraqi government. Reporting to the U.N. Security Council on behalf of the 29 countries in the Multi-National Force in Iraq, Bolton also said that the coalition remains committed to its mandate and to seeing Iraqi forces take full responsibility for the country's security.

14 June 2006 Bush, Advisers Draw Up Plan To Support New Iraqi Government  President Bush discussed developments in Iraq with his top advisers at Camp David and traveled to Baghdad to meet with members of the new Iraqi government. Together, U.S. and Iraqi officials outlined a course of action to support the Iraqi government’s efforts to restore security, revitalize the economy and boost the government’s capacity to provide essential services.

13 June 2006 U.S. President Arrives in Baghdad for Surprise Trip   President Bush made an unannounced five-hour visit to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, President Jalal Talabani, and other Iraqi leaders, and paid a visit to U.S. troops serving in Iraq.

12 June 2006 Bush Calls for Iraqi Aid Donors To Honor Pledges  President Bush urged members of the international community, including Iraq’s neighbors, to “do more to help” with Iraq’s reconstruction, including honoring their financial aid pledges, which total more than $13 billion.

10 June 2006 Zarqawi's Death Is Victory for Freedom, Bush Declares  The killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, operational commander of al-Qaida in Iraq, is an important victory for the Iraqi people and in the global war against terrorism, President Bush said in his weekly radio address to the nation on June 10.

08 June 2006 Terrorist Leader Zarqawi's Death Called "Severe Blow" to al-Qaida   President Bush announced June 8 that Jordanian-born terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had been killed June 7 in a precision air strike by U.S. special operations forces in Iraq, in what he described as a “severe blow to al-Qaida and … a significant victory in the War on Terror.”

02 June 2006 Military Will Circulate Probe Findings on Alleged Iraqi Murders   Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said military investigations into allegations that U.S. forces in Iraq murdered unarmed civilians will proceed through normal channels and the results then will be released publicly.

01 June 2006 Iraqi Civilian Deaths at Hadithah Subject of Two U.S. Probes   Two investigations are proceeding simultaneously into the facts and circumstances surrounding the deaths of Iraqi civilians in Hadithah November 19, 2005, a U.S. military spokesman says.

30 May 2006 Scientists Report Recovery of Iraq Marshes Under Way   Since 2003, restoration of Iraq's destroyed Mesopotamian marshes has resulted in a "remarkable rate of reestablishment" of native plants, fish, birds and other life forms, according to an article in the June issue of the journal BioScience.

26 May 2006 Coalition Colonel Sees Optimism and Opportunity in Iraq   Increasingly effective counterinsurgency operations by coalition-trained Iraqi security forces are prompting optimism about the country’s future for Army Colonel Michael Beech of Multinational Force Baghdad.

25 May 2006 Bush, British Prime Minister Pledge Support for Iraq's Government  President Bush said Iraq’s new permanent, democratically elected government "represents a new beginning" for Iraq, as well as a new relationship for Iraq with the U.S. and others in the international community.

22 May 2006 Security Tops New Iraqi Government's Agenda  With ongoing insurgent and terrorist attacks, as well as continuing sectarian violence between Shiite and Sunni communities, Iraq’s complex security situation will top the agenda of the newly announced unity government, says James Jeffrey, coordinator for Iraq policy and a senior adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

21 May 2006 U.S. Officials Hail Formation of Unity Government in Iraq   President Bush praised the establishment of a government of national unity in Iraq and, in phone calls to Iraq's new president, prime minister and speaker of parliament May 21, pledged continued U.S. support to build a nation of peace and freedom.

18 May 2006 Recent Operations Show Growing Capability of Iraqi Army, Police   Iraqi security forces demonstrated their growing capability to keep the peace in two recent and successful counterinsurgency operations, says a coalition forces spokesman.

17 May 2006 U.S. Welcomes News that Iraqi Government Will Be Announced May 20  The U.S. welcomes reports that Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki intends to convene the country’s parliament, the Council of Representatives, to announce the composition of his government and to ask the parliament for a vote of confirmation.

12 May 2006 Force Alone Cannot Transform Iraq, Says Coalition General   In a post-conflict situation like in Iraq, military force alone never can bring about decisive results, according to the deputy commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq. All the coalition can do is to support the Iraqi political and economic processes that have the power to "change people’s lives," said British Royal Marine Lieutenant General Robert Fry during a press briefing in Iraq.

09 May 2006 Progress in Iraq at Risk if Funding Lags, Says Rumsfeld   As Iraq continues to make political and military progress, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is urging Congress to pass an emergency supplemental spending bill to avoid slowing efforts to train and equip Iraqi security forces.

09 May 2006 Rice Praises Commitment, Determination of Iraqi Leadership   Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed optimism at the commitment and determination of Iraq’s new leaders as they seek to forge a government of national unity.

03 May 2006 Terrorists Desperate To Derail Iraqi Democracy, U.S. General Says   Terrorist bombings and propaganda videos signify a "desperate attack by a desperate enemy," a coalition forces spokesman says, but adds that Iraq will not be diverted from a stable, unified, and democratic future.

27 April 2006 Progress Toward Iraqi Unity Government Prompts Optimism   With a national unity government being formed and increasingly capable security forces keeping the peace, Iraq is making real progress, says U.S. Army Major General Rick Lynch.

26 April 2006 Rice Visits Baghdad To Consult New Iraqi Leaders   Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad to consult with Iraq’s newly chosen government officials and review operations at the U.S. Embassy to ensure it is in a position to provide the new Iraqi government with the support it needs.

26 April 2006 U.S. Urges Rapid Formation of Inclusive Government in Iraq  The overall U.S. strategy in Iraq is focused on the rapid standup of an inclusive, effective, democratic government that unifies the country, says James Jeffrey, the State Department's coordinator for Iraq.

25 April 2006 Rice Urges Turkey To Work with Iraq in Fighting Terror Group   Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged Turkey to wait until a new Iraqi government is formed in the weeks ahead to address cross-border terrorism by the PKK, a Kurdish separatist group that has sought refuge in neighboring Iraq.

25 April 2006 Iraqi Government Laying Foundation for Market Economy   Iraqi economic officials have made tremendous progress in laying the foundation for a self-sufficient market economy, but face challenges in the energy and banking sectors, according to Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Robert Kimmit.

24 April 2006 Rice Says Iraqi People Have Framework To Deal with Militias  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the Iraqi people, for the first time, have a framework to control sectarian militias through a permanent government and permanent armed forces and police forces that function on behalf of the nation.

23 April 2006 Bush Congratulates Iraqi Leaders on Agreement on Top Posts  President Bush has congratulated Iraq's people and their leaders for achieving an agreement on top leadership posts for the country's government of national unity. "This agreement represents compromise and consensus among many different Iraqi groups, and it came after months of patient negotiations," Bush said in remarks delivered in Sacramento, California.

22 April 2006 Rice Hails Choice of Iraqi Prime Minister as "Important Milestone"  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has hailed Iraq’s selection of Jawad al-Maliki to become the country’s new prime minister as an "important milestone" that puts Iraqis "well on their way to the formation of … [a] government of national unity."

20 April 2006 Rice Sees Growing Democratic Activity Among Iraqi People  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that for the first time, the people of Iraq are demanding accountability from their elected leaders.

20 April 2006 Iraqi Security Forces Continuing To Make Progress   Iraqi military and police forces are leading security efforts in support of their country’s elected leaders’ ongoing negotiations to form a national unity government, says U.S. Army Major General Rick Lynch, spokesman for Multi-National Force - Iraq.

14 April 2006 Coalition Forces Must Continue To Support Iraq, U.S. General Says  Coalition forces must continue to play a vital role in providing security in Iraq, says Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

10 April 2006 Iraqi Leaders Making Progress, But Need To Form Government  President Bush praised Iraqi leaders for taking "important steps" including the formation of a new inclusive national security council, but said "now is the time" to put aside differences and form a unity government.

07 April 2006 State Department Issues Report Detailing Progress in Iraq   Iraq's economy nearly doubled from 2002 to 2005, despite disruptions from terrorists and insurgents, the State Department said in its first presidential report to Congress detailing progress in Iraq in the areas of politics, economics and security.

09 April 2006 U.S. Ambassador Anticipates New Iraqi Government in Near Future  Iraqi leaders are continuing to negotiate intensively on the formation of a government of national unity and should be able to resolve the issue of the prime minister within the next several days, according to U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad.

06 April 2006 Iraqi, Coalition Forces Capture Top Insurgent Leader   Coalition forces in Iraq have captured of Muhammed Hila Hammad Ubaydi, also known as Abu Ayman, a key insurgent leader believed to have close ties with the Jordanian-born terrorist leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to U.S. Army spokesman Major General Rick Lynch.

06 April 2006 Rumsfeld, U.K.'s Reid Vow Support for Iraqi Political Process  The British and U.S. defense ministers concluded a bilateral meeting [jump to transcript] in which they focused on Iraq, but also discussed Afghanistan and other bilateral military issues such as the Joint Strike Fighter program.

03 April 2006 Rice, Britain's Straw Urge Iraq To Form Government Soon   Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw are urging Iraq's political leaders to take swift action to form a government of national unity needed to fill a political vacuum and quell sectarian violence.

02 April 2006 In Baghdad, Rice Urges Progress on Government of National Unity   During a surprise trip to Baghdad, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Iraqi leaders and urged them to complete their political negotiations by selecting a prime minister with enough support to form a broad-based government of national unity.

29 March 2006 Cheney Says U.S. Making Progress in Stabilizing Iraq  Vice President Cheney says the U.S. and its coalition allies are making progress on two tracks toward stabilizing Iraq. "One is the progress that's being made on the political front as the Iraqis put together a government under their new constitution, and they're working on that very hard, day in and day out; and the other is the progress that's being made training Iraqi security forces and getting them into the fight," Cheney said in an interview in Washington March 29.

29 March 2006 Bush Calls Iraqi Ethnic, Sectarian Strife Legacy of Saddam Hussein  President Bush said former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein exacerbated ethnic and sectarian divisions within his country in order to keep himself in power, and the current "toxic atmosphere" in Iraq "bears witness to his terrible handiwork."

28 March 2006 Rumsfeld Says Iraqis Deserve Credit for Security Improvements  Thanks to successful security measures put in place by Iraqi authorities, more than 1 million Shi’ites safely observed a major religious holiday for the first time in decades, said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

27 March 2006 Rumsfeld Says Patience Needed To Roll Back Violence in Iraq  Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld counseled those anxious to see an end to the U.S. presence in Iraq to exercise patience while Iraqi security forces become more experienced in quelling violence and defending their new government.

24 March 2006 Saddam Hussein Feared Uprising More Than U.S. Forces  Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was more afraid of an internal uprising in 2003 and 2004 than invasion by coalition forces, according to a report released March 24 by the U.S. military.

23 March 2006 Coalition, Iraqi Forces Seen Gaining Ground Against Insurgency   Coalition troops, with Iraqis increasingly in the lead, have launched a series of operations targeting insurgents who seek to incite violence among Iraqi Shi’as, Sunnis and Kurds.

20 March 2006 Bush Highlights Tal Afar as Example of Progress in Iraq   President Bush expressed his confidence in Iraq’s success by highlighting Tal Afar, a city in northern Iraq with an ethnically mixed population that Bush described as "a concrete example of progress in Iraq."
See also related article: President Discusses War on Terror and Operation Iraqi Freedom

17 March 2006 U.S. Willing To Talk to Iran About Situation in Iraq, Rice Says  The U.S. is willing to talk to the Iranian government about the situation in Iraq but not about Iran's nuclear program, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

19 March 2006 No Civil War in Iraq Despite Terrorists' Desperate Efforts, Cheney Says   Iraq has not fallen into civil war even though terrorists are doing their desperate best to foment one to thwart the nation's democratic development, Vice President Dick Cheney says.

19 March 2006 Iraq Has Made Major Gains in Three Years, Rumsfeld Says   By Donald H. Rumsfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defense.

17 March 2006 U.S. Willing To Talk to Iran About Situation in Iraq, Rice Says  The U.S. is willing to talk to the Iranian government about the situation in Iraq but not about Iran's nuclear program, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

16 March 2006 Coalition Forces Committed to Iraq, Bolton Says   Insurgents and terrorists are intent on carrying out attacks against Iraqi civilians, officials and security forces in hopes of destabilizing the government and disrupting the fledgling democracy, says U.S. Ambassador John Bolton.

14 March 2006 State's Jeffrey Sees Little Likelihood of Civil War in Iraq   A senior U.S. government official discounts the likelihood of Iraq slipping into a civil war and says the Iraqi people hold the solution to the sectarian violence that threatens the country’s stability.

13 March 2006 Despite Media Images, Terrorists Are Losing in Iraq, Bush Says   Warning of "difficult work ahead," President Bush praised the progress made by the Iraqi people in the three years following the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime, and said the terrorists in Iraq "are losing on the field of battle."

13 March 2006 President Discusses Freedom and Democracy in Iraq  Remarks at the The George Washington University, Washington D.C.

12 March 2006 U.S. Ambassador Commends Iraq's Progress on Forming Government  Leaders of Iraq's major political factions have agreed to convene the country's new parliament on March 16 and to meet continuously in an effort to form a government of national unity as soon as possible, according to U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad.

11 March 2006 U.S. Military in Iraq Dynamic, Adaptive, Bush Says  The U.S. military constantly is gathering intelligence, adjusting its strategies and adapting its tactics to defeat the insurgency in Iraq and help ensure peace in that country, President Bush told reporters March 11.

08 March 2006 Europe Plays Growing Role in Helping Iraqis Build Better Future  Despite past differences on the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Europe and the United States increasingly are working together to promote stability in Iraq and to meet a growing number of global challenges, a senior U.S. diplomat says.

07 March 2006 Perseverance Against Terrorist Media Manipulation Key for Iraqis  Iraq’s allies must continue to persevere in the face of terrorist efforts to spread lies, says Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

05 March 2006 Iraq's Government, Military Developing Very Well, General Says  Iraq's government and security forces are developing very well, General Peter Pace, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in talk show appearances on NBC’s Meet the Press with Tim Russert and Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

03 March 2006 Violence Will Not Stop Iraq's Democratic Process, Rumsfeld Says   Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says individuals who are fomenting violence in Iraq are doing so "to stop the formation of a new government," but they will not succeed. When innocent civilians are killed by violence it is always stunning, shocking and heartbreaking, but the secretary said the reality is that Iraq has been "a violent part of the world for a good long time, and what we’re seeing there now is a conscious effort by the terrorists and the insurgents to incite civil war and sectarian violence."

02 March 2006 U.S. General Praises Iraqi Government's Security Efforts  In recent weeks, Iraqi government, police and military forces took rapid and effective security measures that limited damage and saved lives, says a spokesman for the coalition forces.

28 February 2006 State Department Requests $4 Billion for Iraq Reconstruction   The State Departmen