27 March 2008
Surge Helped Restart Iraqi Political, Economic Life, Bush Says
Iraqi people key factor in improved security
Washington -- The surge in U.S. forces across critical hot spots in Iraq in 2007 has helped Iraqis improve security and restart political and economic life and is bringing the United States ever closer to a strategic victory against radical extremism and terrorism, President Bush says.
These were the primary goals of the surge, when Bush ordered an additional 30,000 Army and Marine forces into Iraq. Since December 2007, five combat brigades have been withdrawn. The outlook for further force reductions will become clearer after a report in April from Army General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
But the success of the surge did not depend on just military power; it was enhanced by the Iraqi people, who are anxious for a secure nation, Bush says. "A key factor in these security gains has been new cooperation from the Iraqi people. Ordinary Iraqis have come forward with intelligence. ... Citizens who were once hostile to the coalition have switched sides and are now joining with us."
The surge is doing what it was intended to do -- protect the Iraqi people and consolidate gains made by U.S.-led coalition forces, the president said. The coalition also took action on the other objective behind the surge -- providing “space” for political and economic progress with the return of security, the president said.
"So we deployed additional civilian experts and more than doubled the number of provincial reconstruction teams, with a mission to ensure the security gains were followed up by improvements in daily life," Bush said in a March 27 speech in Dayton, Ohio. The speech at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is part of a series of public addresses Bush has made in advance of congressional testimony in early April from U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Petraeus on progress in Iraq.
Bush cited security improvements across Iraq, saying "in Baghdad, we've worked with Iraqi security forces to greatly diminish the sectarian violence and civilian deaths. We've broken the grip of al-Qaida on the capital. We've weakened the influence of Iranian-backed militias."
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki made a strong decision to go after illegal groups in Basra, which demonstrates his leadership and his commitment to enhancing Iraqis' security, Bush said.
Following the surge and the improved security environment, Bush said Iraqis have restarted the political process.
"They're striving to build a modern democracy on the rubble of three decades of tyranny, in a region of the world that has been hostile to freedom. And they're doing it while under assault from one of history's most brutal terrorist networks," Bush said.
The president cited enactment of an Iraqi government pension law that would allow tens of thousands of Sunnis to collect retirement benefits they had been promised. "Part of reconciliation is to reach out to groups who may not have trust in central government. And you build trust by honoring commitments," he said.
Iraqi leaders in January enacted a new de-Baathification law that allows people who were mid-level members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party to re-enter political and civic life, Bush said, calling it another significant reconciliation measure.
Iraqi officials have enacted a budget, Bush said, that increases spending on security and capital reconstruction projects and provincial governments. Leaders also enacted an amnesty law to resolve the status of many Iraqis held in Iraqi custody.
Finally, Bush said Iraqi leaders reached an agreement on a provincial powers law that helps define Iraqi federalism and sets the stage for provincial elections later this year.
During a period of active sectarian violence more than a year ago, Iraq's economy was in trouble as oil revenues declined and businesses closed their doors, the president said. "A year later, almost every key economic indicator has turned around. Since the surge began, business registrations have increased by more than 9 percent. Total inflation has fallen by more than 60 percentage points," he said.
Investment in energy and telecommunications industries has increased, Bush said, the agricultural sector is improving, oil production is up and economic growth nationwide is projected to be a robust 7 percent this year.
"As the economic situation stabilizes, Iraq's government has stepped forward to meet more of its own expenses. This is a mark of pride for Iraqis, and it is a point of insistence for us," the president said.
A transcript of the president’s remarks is available on America.gov.
