Iraq

Bush touts U.S.'s 'clear strategy' for Iraq

WASHINGTON - Underscoring his belief and hope that Iraq will be a stable democracy one day, President Bush told Americans on Saturday that his administration has a clear strategy and is moving forward on its work to complete the transformation of Iraq.

"We are following a clear strategy with three objectives: destroy the terrorists, enlist international support for a free Iraq and quickly transfer authority to the Iraqi people," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, are appearing on television talk shows today to bolster the president's message that progress is being made in the war-shattered country.

In his radio address, Bush said U.S.-led coalition forces continue to thwart loyalists of Saddam Hussein and foreign terrorists.

"Our military is taking direct action against Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists," Bush said. "One major effort under way right now, called Operation Longstreet, is seeking and finding our enemies wherever they hide and plot. Already, this operation has yielded hundreds of detainees and seized hundreds of weapons, and we will remain on the offensive against the terrorists."

He also said the United States is working to return the government to Iraqis.

"We're moving forward on a specific plan to return sovereignty and authority to the Iraqi people," he said. "We have created a governing council made up of Iraqi citizens. The council has selected a committee that is developing a process through which Iraqis will draft a new constitution for their country.

"Operations of many government tasks have been turned over to ministers appointed by the governing council. And when a constitution has been drafted and ratified by the Iraqi people, Iraq will enjoy free and fair elections, and the coalition will yield its remaining authority to a free and sovereign Iraqi government."

Bush had a briefing Saturday with Vice President Dick Cheney and Rice participating by conference video. The president is entertaining guests at the Camp David presidential retreat, a White House spokesman said.

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