Speaking at Camp David on Friday, President Bush admitted he does not know when American troops can begin pulling out of Iraq.
Bush was addressing reporters shortly after a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. He admitted that although the new Iraqi prime minister said Americans could be leaving Iraq within 18 months, Iraqi troops had to prove they could defend themselves before Americans could begin to leave.
'I think we'll get a realistic appraisal about the capacity for standing up Iraqi troops as this new government begins to function,' the president said. Now they've got a defense minister which will give us time to assess their command-and-control.'
Bush also said he was 'thrilled that [terrorist leader] Zarqawi was brought to justice and I am so proud of our troops and intelligence officers who brought him to justice. This man had a lot of blood on his hands.'
The president insisted that, 'Zarqawi's death helps a lot,' but he admitted that 'It's not going to end the war.'
Bush said he expected a short-term increase in violence as al-Qaeda followers and insurgents would try to show they have not been defeated by al-Zarqawi's death. 'I'm trying to be realistic with the American people,' Bush insisted.
