REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AFTER MEETING WITH GENERAL ODIERNO at Al Faw Palace Baghdad, Iraq

Q    Sir, can you tell us what your primary purpose is in being here?

THE PRESIDENT:  To say thank you to the troops.  They are doing extraordinary work.  General Odierno has been helping to lead a very effective operation here.  We want to be fully briefed.  And nothing does that better than face-to-face meetings.

I’ll have the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Maliki and President Talabani while I’m here.  Obviously we’ve spent a lot of time trying to get Afghanistan right.  But I think it’s important for us to remember that there’s still a lot of work to be done here.  And in addition to thanking our troops, I also want to send a strong message to our diplomatic corps and our civilians that they’re going to be critical to our success here.

We’ve made significant political progress.  You’ve seen a greater willingness on the part of all the factions in Iraq to resolve their issues politically and through non-violent means.  But with the national elections coming up, many of the unresolved issues may be brought to a head.  And it’s very important for us to use all of our influence to encourage parties to resolve these issues in ways that are equitable and fair.  And I think that my presence here can help do that.

Okay.  Thank you, guys.

Not to mention, Chip, I thought you guys hadn’t been on the road long enough.  (Laughter.)  I know that you didn’t feel like going home, we had under-worked you.  So I figured one more stop.

Q    Did you say you’re meeting with or talking to –-

THE PRESIDENT:  I will be meeting with them, face to face.

Q    Face to face?

Q    Will that be here, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  In the near vicinity.