President Bush on Thursday praised the progress that has been made in Iraq and credited last year’s troop surge as “a significant reason” for the improvements.
“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,” Bush said in. “Gen. 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.”
{mosads}Touting the increased capability of Iraqi forces, Bush noted that the Iraqi government this week launched an offensive in the Diyala province.
“As security in Iraq has improved, the Iraqi government has made political progress as well. The Iraqi Council of Representatives has passed several major pieces of legislation this year, and Iraqi leaders are preparing for provincial elections,” Bush stated.
The president added that the gains made have allowed the U.S. to bring home the troops that were added to Iraq as part of the surge and that, beginning on Friday, troops sent to the country will be deployed for a year, not the current 15 months.
However, Bush cautioned that “we remain a nation at war,” and praised the troops and their families.
“The best way to honor them is to support their mission — and bring them home with victory,” Bush declared.