I’ve been authorized by the president to engage the Iranians as I engaged them in Afghanistan directly. There will be meetings, and that’s also a departure and an adjustment [to US policy).

You can’t have someone who is regarded as sectarian as the minister of interior.

The U.S. and Iraq will work together next year to shift Iraqi resources from unproductive subsidies to productive uses that enable Iraqis to earn livelihoods.

The reaction that’s needed by the Iraqis — they need to come together.

I think we would assume since these discussions are with regard to our concern with Iranian policies in Iraq that it (the talks) should be in Baghdad.

The draft constitution is one of the most progressive governing documents in the Muslim world, … in terms of its protection of rights of religious freedom and conscience.

We have opened the Pandora’s box.

I think the country came to the brink of civil war. (They) decided to come together and now the risk of civil war from this attack on the golden mosque is over.

Everything that needs to be done must be done to avoid a civil war, and I think they are keenly aware of the danger.

The national unity government will need to implement a program that brings all Iraqis together, builds a happy future for the people of Iraq, and gets Iraq to stand on its own feet.

will depend not only on our military strategy, but also on the political progress.

The draft constitution of Iraq is the most progressive document of the Muslim world.

This decision, the formation of a government of national unity is extremely important. If they (Iraqi leaders) make the right decision forming a national unity government — competent ministers, good process with a good program...

America has invested blood and treasure here, and we stand for certain values, and one of them is equality for men and women. I believe the new constitution will embrace equality for men and women...

When there have been differences between the various forces with regard to a particular issue, and they’ve asked for my help, I have proposed to them options for bridging the differences between them. Failure is...

Elected leaders need to govern from the center, not the ideological extremes. This is particularly true in the security area, where the new government must continue increasing the capability of Iraqi security forces while ensuring...

It is important that the Iraqi people have confidence in the election results and that the voting process, including the process for vote counting, is free and fair.

At this point, the determination is to meet the Aug. 15 deadline.

It is critical that the newly elected leaders of Iraq do their part by forming a government of national unity with a good program and competent ministers as soon as possible.

We hope that this will be a government based on national unity, formed without regard to sectarianism, committed to peace and with capable ministers who place loyalty to Iraq above that of loyalty to faction.

Iran has another policy as well: to work with militias, provide training and provide weapons to extremist groups, direct and indirectly.

right for Iraq at the present time.

They want to intensify violence; they want to, on occasion, cause civil strife and civil war in Iraq. Iraqis want to succeed like people everywhere.

We are not going to abandon Iraq.

If Iraqis among themselves, in the assembly and those from outside, decide to make some adjustments compared to the draft that was presented three four days ago, it’s entirely up to them.

The country is bleeding. Iraqis want their leaders to rise to the occasion, to form a government of national unity.

We want him to form as quickly as possible a good, strong cabinet. It is important that there be a cabinet made up of ministers who will work for all Iraqis and bring Iraqis together.

Everyone believes that the prospect for a civil war has diminished significantly over the past several days. All the mainstream leaders of Iraq believe that civil war must be avoided. It’s very positive that they...

I believe that a final, final draft has not yet been, or the edits have not been, presented yet so that is something that Iraqis will have to talk to each other and decide for...

and that our efforts and the effort of many women here in Iraq and the international community will ultimately pay off on this score.

We will help them if our help is needed. They will have to decide if they need help or not.

Success in Iraq will be a major setback for terrorists and a major asset for the security of this region. The struggle for Iraq is the struggle for the future of the world.

The terrorists are seeking to provoke sectarian war, and Iraq needs a government of national unity in the face of this threat. Iraq is bleeding while they are moving at a very slow pace.

I believe that if we get — when we get — the national unity government, when we have ministries that are run by competent ministers, and as we get into the next phase of our...

I believe you cannot win the kind of conflict we are facing by military means alone… You need to have an integrated approach that wins populations over,

I assured them that the United States believes strongly that the Iraqi constitution should provide equal rights before the law for all Iraqis regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sect, … There can be...

I would not like to elaborate … I think they should understand what I mean.

That will bring down the total level from 17 brigades to 15.

Iraq will succeed. It will take longer if the neighbors play an unhelpful role, … It can happen at a faster pace if the neighbors play a positive role.

Iraq’s political parties and their leaders must come together to reinforce their commitment to democratic principles and national unity.

I believe strongly that you cannot defeat the insurgency through military means alone.

Iraq is such an important place in the world. What happens in Iraq will determine and shape the future of the Middle East, … Being away on a day like this is a huge sacrifice,...

What we’ve seen in the past two days, the attack has had a major impact here, getting everyone’s attention that Iraq is in danger.

The security ministries have to be run by people who are not associated with militias and who are not regarded as sectarian. The issue is how forces that we’re investing a huge amount of money...

We’re going to press very hard for this.

He can stand beside me and give his opinion, and he is not intimidated.

The neighbors can make it harder. It can take longer. But success is inevitable. This country has the resources to become a very rich and powerful country. It behooves the neighbors of Iraq to help.

The militias are an issue that the next government will have to deal with. Iraq needs a strong national army, a strong national police. It needs weapons in the hands of those who are authorized...

I congratulate the Iraqi people on having arrived at this historic moment. The U.S. is proud of the role we have played in helping Iraqis achieve this success.

We don’t want war with Iraq. We want Saddam to comply with U.N. resolutions and we want freedom and liberty for the Iraqi people,