They are making great progress. They have reached agreement on almost all of the key issues. There is one or two issues left. They are working very hard. They tell me they are optimistic, but...

It is a moment of danger but also a moment of opportunity.

Iran is a very complicated player, an influential player seeking regional pre- eminence. Iraq is very important to it, and it is using a variety of means that, to you and I, would look very...

We have opened the Pandora’s box and the question is, what is the way forward? If another incident (occurs), Iraq is really vulnerable.

We are investing a great deal of resources in the police and army. Those forces will not be regarded as credible forces if run by a minister who is sectarian or has ties to militias....

Since no single party will have a majority there will be a need for a very broad-based coalition.

I have discussed the issue with the interior minister. She clearly is in a dangerous situation, but we’re working hard with the Iraqis and others to get her released.

I do believe it’s possible that we could adjust our forces, downsizing them in the course of next year,

Things are getting better. The Iraqis came to the brink of civil war as a result of the attack on the shrine … The Iraqi leadership came together and rose to the occasion and that’s...

The draft constitution has moved in the right direction and is moving toward becoming the national compact Iraq needs.

This not only opens the door for insurgents to permanently renounce violence and join the political process in order to stabilize Iraq, it also isolates the terrorists who are the enemy of all Iraqis, while...

Today marks another momentous step in the building of a new Iraq, … will help pave the path to a democratic and independent Iraq, based on the rule of law.

I think American impatience has to do with the notion that we don’t know what we’re doing. If we could project that we are moving in the right direction, Americans are ready to be very...

We are trying to urge the politicians to quickly hold the parliament session.

Now several groups of them support the constitution, are voting for it,

We are doing all that we can to help bring about a release and will persist with that.

Our patience is running out, the patience of Iraqis [is] . . . running out. The time for decision . . . has arrived for Damascus,

This is a critical moment for Iraq. We call on all Iraqis to unite against terror and violence. Coming together in unity to condemn this barbaric act, and working for Iraq’s salvation will be the...

In order for Iraq to succeed, there has to be cross-ethnic and cross-sectarian cooperation.

At this point the determination is to meet the August 15 deadline.

Weapons and people coming across the border to undermine Iraq must be stopped, and we’re working with the Iraqis, including the prime minister (Ibrahim Jaafari), to make this message clear to the Iranians,

I believe that they’re on the wrong side of history ? that the people of Iraq are moving away from them, including the Sunni community. They will ultimately be defeated. The question is not whether,...

He said that based on the information that he has, that she is alive and that they have information with regard to where she might be held.