U.S. Mission Has Evolved Since ’03 Declaration

Some of President Bush’s comments on the Iraq war since the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

* May 1, 2003, aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln:

“Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country.”

* Jan. 20, 2004, in his State of the Union address:

“The work of building a new Iraq is hard, and it is right. And America has always been willing to do what it takes for what is right.... As democracy takes hold in Iraq, the enemies of freedom will do all in their power to spread violence and fear. They are trying to shake the will of our country and our friends, but the United States of America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins.... Month by month, Iraqis are assuming more responsibility for their own security and their own future.”

* Aug. 5, 2004, at a campaign event in Columbus, Ohio:

“We are safer -- we are safer and the world is better off because Saddam is sitting in a prison cell.... There must be a compelling national need to put our troops into harm’s way. I felt that. I felt we had a compelling national need. And when you put your troops in harm’s way, you better have the best -- the best equipment, the best support, and the best possible pay.”

* June 24, 2005, welcoming Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari to the White House:

“We’re optimistic that more and more Iraqi troops are becoming better trained to fight the terrorists. We’re optimistic about the constitutional process. There is a political track that’s moving forward in parallel with the security track. No question about -- it’s difficult.... But nevertheless, progress is being made, and the defeat of the enemy -- and they will be defeated -- will be accelerated by the progress on the ground in Iraq that -- the establishment of a democratic state that listens to the hopes and aspirations of all the people in Iraq will lead to the defeat of this enemy.”

* Aug. 11, 2005, when asked about predictions of troop reductions by U.S. generals:

“I think [comments about troop reductions] were rumors. I think they’re speculation. I suspect what you were hearing was speculation based upon progress that some are seeing

in Iraq as to whether or not the Iraqis will be able to take the fight to the

enemy. The decision finally will be made by me -- upon the recommendation of Gen. [George W.] Casey, through [Defense] Secretary [Donald H.] Rumsfeld, to me.”

* Aug. 24, 2005, in an address to military families in Idaho:

“An immediate withdrawal of our troops in Iraq, or the broader Middle East, as some have called for, would only embolden the terrorists and create a staging ground to launch more attacks against America and free nations. So long as I’m the president, we will stay, we will fight, and we will win the war on terror.”

* Wednesday at the U.S. Naval Academy:

“Victory will come when the terrorists and Saddamists can no longer threaten Iraq’s democracy, when the Iraqi security forces can provide for the safety of their own citizens and when Iraq is not a safe haven for terrorists to plot new attacks on our nation. As we make progress toward victory, Iraqis will take more responsibility for their security, and fewer U.S. forces will be needed to complete the mission.”