Speaking to General David Petraeus and Addressing Iraq

This morning at 11:00 a.m. EST, President Bush held his first news conference of the year in the East Room of the White House.

After Congress recently approved his appointed of General David Petraeus as the top military commander in Iraq, President Bush held this conference to detail the conversation between the two commanders.

Reporting from Iraq, General Petraeus spoke with President Bush regarding the Iraqi government and its falling through on a troop commitment in Baghdad.

President Bush claims he is "paying attention to the schedule" and making sure our coalition troops arrive in Baghdad on time. The Iraqi government, however, is not fulfilling their pledge to meet the United States' troop expansion with an expansion in their own forces.

The President continued by addressing the issue of increasing suicide bombings and the insurgents' active strategy to undermine Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government. He stated, "The operation to secure Baghdad is going to take time and there will be violence," and expressed his understanding of a concerned public. But, he added, "If you think the violence is bad now, imagine what it would be like if we didn't help them secure Baghdad."

President Bush believes this country's involvement in Iraq is crucial, because Iraqis "want to grow up in a peaceful environment." The President hopes that our actions overseas will ensure this kind of community for the country of Iraq.

Turning his attention to those who exclaim their dissatisfaction with the situation in Iraq, President Bush states that is likewise dissatisfied. Hence, his ordering of a comprehensive strategic review.

The President strives to achieve success in Iraq because he believes that accomplishing this feat will thereby achieve success on the home front. He "firmly believe[s]" that if we leave Iraq without disposing of the enemy, the enemy will follow us home.

"A successful strategy requires more than just military action," President Bush stated. Because of this, Iraq has created a $41 billion budget, with $10 billion of their own money being set aside for reconstruction and capital investment.

The President also spoke of an oil law that is in the process of being passed. This law would allow for the sharing of all oil revenue amongst the Iraqi people. More citizens of Iraq will then be given the opportunity to reenter political life.

President Bush also reviewed the Iraq strategy: clear, hold, build. He stated, "We haven't been too good on holding."

With the recent appointment of General Petraeus as the top military commander, the President hopes to change this fault in the plan. Success would require the Iraqi government to comply, and the issue now is their failure to achieve the promised troop commitment.

Information for this article was received via a live broadcast of the event.