Political Quotes

“Security on the ground, a secure and stable environment. And that is what the counterinsurgency strategy has been about, and the results that it has yielded. As we have just discussed, indeed, and as Americans know well, we had a surge from our troops. The Iraqis also carried out their surge, and what it has yielded is an environment where not only we saw the military progress, but also where political progress can take place. And there are some wonderful lessons learned here. I think that one of those, when we are in Iraq visiting with our troops and working with some of the Iraqis and helping to mentor some of the women that we have mentored over there, one of the things they will tell you is, we are so glad that you have not left us. Thank you for not leaving us. We know people are frustrated. We know there are no guarantees. But we also know that it is important that we keep at it. It's not going to happen overnight. And thank you, thank you for not leaving. We fear what would happen if you left. And they are, as the gentleman from Georgia was saying, Mr. Speaker, they are seeing progress. The Iraq parliament is seeing progress. And as the gentleman just listed some things, and let me touch on them again, a pension law for regime officials, that has happened. De- Ba'athification reform, that has been carried out. An amnesty law, provincial election laws.”