FACTBOX: Selected remarks by Bush on the Iraq war
(Reuters) - Following is a selection of remarks by U.S. President George W. Bush about the Iraq war since it began in March 2003:
"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."
- May 1, 2003, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln under a banner declaring "Mission Accomplished."
"I hope there's not an expectation from people that all of a sudden there's going to be zero violence. ... It's just not going to be the case."
- June 14, 2006, White House Rose Garden.
"We will stay the course, we will help this young Iraqi democracy succeed, and victory in Iraq will be a major ideological triumph in the struggle of the 21st century."
- August 30, 2006, Salt Lake City.
"Stay the course means keep doing what you're doing. My attitude is, don't do what you're doing if it's not working -- change. Stay the course also means don't leave before the job is done. We're going to get the job done in Iraq."
- October 11, 2006, White House Rose Garden.
"It's my responsibility to provide the American people with a candid assessment on the way forward. ... Absolutely, we're winning."
- October 25, 2006, White House East Room.
"We're not winning, we're not losing."
- December 19, 2006, interview with The Washington Post (published on December 20).
"The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people -- and it is unacceptable to me. ... Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.
- January 10, 2007, White House library.
"Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq -- and I ask you to give it a chance to work." Continued...




