Secretary Hillary Clinton and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Good afternoon. It is a pleasure for me to welcome the prime minister back to Washington to keep building and deepening the partnership between our nations. It is a partnership based on the goal of a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq, and guided by the terms of the Strategic Framework Agreement.

Today, the prime minister and I discussed a range of issues, and we agreed to establish a diplomatic joint coordinating committee under the Strategic Framework Agreement. In that committee, we will discuss all Chapter 7 issues that need to be resolved. Tomorrow's U.S-Iraq Business and Investment Conference will be a very important priority for both of us. By bringing together business and government leaders from both countries, we hope to pave the way for greater international investment in Iraq and closer economic ties between us.

As Iraq emerges from conflict, the stability that is occurring will drive greater prosperity, which will help create a lasting peace and bring jobs that will lift families' income and give Iraqis a greater opportunity to chart their own futures. I want to thank Prime Minister Maliki and the other Iraqi leaders who are here today for their leadership on this important conference and the issue, and I want to express our pleasure at seeing the recent amendments to Iraq's national investment law.

We also discussed the upcoming national elections which are critical to Iraq's future. Obviously, we are supporting the efforts to ensure that the elections are credible and legitimate, and that a new government is formed in a timely way to continue the peaceful stability and economic growth that is so important.

And finally, Mr. Prime Minister, I really salute the Iraqi people. They have withstood the challenges of sectarianism, violence, and terrorism. They have made tremendous sacrifices and have achieved the right for a secure and peaceful future of progress and prosperity. The United States remains committed to Iraq and the people of Iraq.

Prime Minister Maliki. In the name of God, peace be upon you. In this occasion, I take the opportunity to express my happiness and pleasure to be here inaugurating the investment conference between Iraq and America. We have met Mrs. Clinton, the Secretary of State, and it was the second meeting with Mrs. Clinton. The first one was in July this year. We had talks, and our talks, in fact, concentrated on the importance of activating the strategic agreement—framework agreement between Iraq and America.

This conference, which will be held tomorrow, and the strategic agreement between Iraq and America means that the relationship between Iraq are no more on the militant level. In fact, it moved to the economic level and other horizons. Iraq, in fact, attempts to inaugurate an extensive and comprehensive investment process, especially after the stability achieved in the country.

In addition, and besides the task of reconstruction, in fact, Iraq seeks and attempts to find revenues to find new ways for increasing and promoting its revenues to cover the cost of reconstruction. In fact, we have waited to carry out or to make amendments on the investment laws in Iraq. And this conference is—will be held after achieving these amendments. The governors and the representative of provincial councils will stay in the United States of America to coordinate and to strengthen the ties and relationships between the Iraqi governors and the American governors.

The meeting with Mrs. Clinton, in fact, was fruitful and very important. We have talked and tackled different issues related to Iraq and to different—to many issues, especially the problem of the Chapter 7. And we, in fact, discussed to get Iraq out of this chapter eventually. In fact, we have the same points of view and we have the same ambitions. And our ambitions for future are sure and as addressed. In fact, this means that we have succeeded in confronting and defeating terrorism, but we have another task, which is creating new opportunities, to create welfare and economic development. The next meeting, I hope it will be in Baghdad. Thank you very much.

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki delivered these remarks in Washington, DC

President Obama. I am grateful to have the opportunity to see Prime Minister Maliki once again. We had a wide-ranging discussion about the continuing progress that Iraq is making. We have seen in the last several months a consolidation of a commitment to democratic politics inside of Iraq. We are very interested, both of us, in making sure that Iraq has an election law that is completed on time so that elections can take place on time in January. That is consistent with the transition that has been taking place, and I reemphasized my commitment to Prime Minister Maliki that we will have our combat troops out of Iraq by August of next year, and all of our troops out of Iraq by 2011.

But we didn't just talk about military and security issues. What is wonderful about this trip is that it represents a transition in our bilateral relationship so that we are moving now to issues beyond security and we are beginning to talk about economy, trade, commerce. The business and investment conference that's taking place is going to be very well attended. It includes not only Prime Minister Maliki but business leaders from both the United States and Iraq. We've seen over the last several months progress being made on providing clarification about investment laws inside of Iraq. There are obviously enormous opportunities for our countries to do business together.

And so I just want to congratulate Prime Minister Maliki on what I'm confident will be a successful conference and to reemphasize my administration's full support for all the steps that can be taken so that Iraq can not only be a secure place and a democratic country, but also a place where people can do business, people can find work, families can make a living, and children are well educated. And that broader sense of a U.S. relationship with a democratic Iraq is one that I think all of us are confident we can now achieve.

So thank you so much for your presence here today.

And I don't know if you—maybe we could translate the last part just about Iraq, as opposed to Afghanistan, just in case there's—

Prime Minister Maliki. Thank you, Mr. President, and this opportunity to hold the business investment conference is a big economic demonstration and manifestation of the importance of this event that brings together more than 1,000 business entrepreneurs and a very distinguished high-level Iraqi delegation.

I have also discussed with President Obama the various issues and the fact that our relations today have moved along and not only confined to the security cooperation, but today have moved to the economic development and to providing prosperity for the Iraqi people.

We have discussed the issues of common interest to our bilateral relations under the—that are today framed under the strategic framework agreement and the various sectors, and all this is important for broader relation of our two nations.

We have also discussed the issue of the elections and the importance that these elections be held on time based on the national principles. We have also commended on the role of the United States that supports Iraq and the importance to end the international sanctions on Iraq and to remove Iraq from under Chapter 7, because we don't have weapons of mass destruction anymore, and today that we have put forth a lot of common sacrifices, and today that there is a pluralistic political system in Iraq. This is important to move Iraq forward and to promote investment.

We will follow up on the outcome of the business investment conference in its various sectors because today Iraq has moved beyond a dictatorship and beyond the destruction and we are trying to rebuild all our sectors of agriculture, oil sectors, tourism and so forth. We want to give the U.S. companies an opportunity to be present in investing in Iraq, and all this cooperation on the basis of the strategic framework agreement.

I thank you very much.

President Obama. Okay, thank you, everybody.

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks at the U.S.-Iraq Business and Investment Conference in Washington, DC

Secretary Clinton. Good morning. I am delighted to be with you this morning, and I thank Dr. Sami for those very important introductory comments about the planning and the achievements that have already gone into this conference. I'm very grateful that Prime Minister Maliki could be here leading the Iraqi delegation. We are sold out. There were hundreds of people turned away, and more people are still coming in and standing in the back, which I think is a great tribute to the importance of this conference and the understanding of the significant opportunities that exist for business and investment in Iraq.

We are excited in the Obama Administration to be part of this transition that is occurring in Iraq. The plans for withdrawing troops are well underway. Our combat troops have left Iraq's major cities, Iraqi security forces have replaced them, and what we see is a new sense of commitment to the future. And although the months ahead will be a time of change in Iraq, we have a great deal of confidence that rests in the ability and the commitment of the Iraqi people. A strong, free, prosperous Iraq is not only important for Iraqis, but also is key to a strong and stable region.

Iraq sits at a global crossroads, and it is a country that, because of its religious and ethnic diversity, has a great potential for connecting up far beyond its own borders in terms of investments and other kinds of opportunities. We believe strongly that Iraq is a land where generations of scientists, doctors, astronomers, engineers built a tradition of scholarship and inquiry that lives on in the Iraqi people today. And now is the time for both Iraq and its friends, like the United States, to demonstrate how there can be a new, more prosperous, peaceful future for Iraq.

Now we know there is a ways to go, but the potential is so palpable, and so is the desire of the Iraqi people. And our overall engagement will deepen and broaden. We are guided by a blueprint called the Strategic Framework Agreement, which identifies several areas in which the United States and Iraq will collaborate, including good governance, rule of law, environmental protection, science, health, education, and especially economic development and the promotion of trade. Prime Minister Maliki will coordinate his government's efforts from Baghdad, and here in Washington, I will do the same.

The State Department takes the lead on our relationship and we will pursue several key goals. First, working to aid the Iraqi Government in its efforts to promote national unity and resolve political conflicts, such as disputes over Kirkuk. Second, we will support Iraq's efforts to build strong relationships with its neighbors in the region. Third, we will promote the return and resettlement of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced people, a critical step for healing society. And fourth, we will support Iraq's economic development and full integration into the global economy.

Our Ambassador Chris Hill is working hard on the ground in Baghdad. And we here in Washington in a whole-of-government approach—Commerce, Defense, other critical agencies—are committed to be as helpful as we can.

For decades, Iraq has been disconnected from the global economy because of war and sanctions. Now we see the potential. And it is one that is based in broad economic growth, fueled by but not limited to oil production. And we believe strongly that economic development will go hand-in-hand with an increasing and very clear commitment to democracy.

But in order for both democracy and economic development to succeed, the people of Iraq have to see results. They've got to see the new jobs, the new houses that Dr. Sami referenced. They've got to see a rise in their standard of living. And there are so many ways that all of you here today can help us achieve that goal. Business can play a vital role in supporting Iraq's economy, while also expanding your own profits and markets. We need to develop new industries for infrastructure and launch new ventures. And I think there is more potential than many people—not you, but many people outside this room—may realize.

This April, the State Department sponsored a trip to Iraq for representatives from several U.S. tech companies, including Google, AT&T, Twitter and Howcast. They came back buzzing about the possibilities for delivering new technologies to Iraq. Before the last several years, cell phone use was barely existent in Iraq. But foreign companies working with local partners providing cell phone coverage has translated into more than 60 percent of Iraqis using cell phones, and many have used their cell phones to start small businesses, renting their phones or selling phone cards.

Cellular technology has not only networked the country, it has also pointed the way to other industries, such as mobile banking, which has already begun in Afghanistan; mobile microfinance; distance learning; telemedicine; mobile support for small farmers, who can use their phones to check commodity prices or receive weather alerts, as farmers in our own country already do.

The American high-tech leaders who came saw for themselves the potential. And their trip has already sparked some new ideas. We've established an Iraq technology task force that brings together people from across Iraqi society, from the public and private sectors, students, women and others, to identify the technology needs of their own communities. And we're finalizing a digital platform where U.S. tech companies will be able to receive requests directly from the Iraqi people. But we don't want to provide only American support. We want to help develop the Iraqi capacity to devise their own solutions.

To that end, I'm delighted to announce that the State Department is launching a U.S.-Iraqi internship program starting this January. Through this program, interns from Iraq will be placed in technology start-ups in the United States to expose them to an entrepreneurial spirit, as well as the acquisition of skills that they will be able to take home with them. This represents a new approach to diplomacy that targets a group that will have a major impact on Iraq's future—namely, the young people of Iraq.

Collaborations like these highlight some of the important assets that American business can bring to Iraq: your expertise, your ingenuity, your capacity to innovate. So even as we encourage financial investment in Iraq, we also seek to leverage these core strengths of American business. Now, we have some obstacles; we understand that. And we know that Iraq has made some important steps in recent months, which I'd like to mention a few of.

In April, the Iraqi Stock Exchange launched its first electronic trading platform. In September, international flights began service to a new airport in Najaf—a city once wracked by violence, now a popular destination for religious tourism. Electronic banking is on the rise, and several Iraqi and foreign private banks have emerged as capable and competitive providers of financial services. The United States is working with ministries in the Iraqi Government to provide training and technical assistance on key practices, including contracting, licensing, the tender process, dispute mitigation, and program management.

And as Dr. Sami said just last week, the Iraqi parliament passed amendments to the National Investment Law that will allow foreigners to purchase land in Iraq for the purpose of commercial housing developments. And I congratulate Prime Minister Maliki and the parliament for taking this important step.

Now, international business is still looking to the Iraqi Government to do more to create safe and attractive conditions. And I know that Prime Minister Maliki and all the Iraqi legislators will be doing more to make the business environment in Iraq secure, accountable, and increasingly attractive. That of course begins with holding national elections in January that are safe, free, and fair. That's essential for convening a new national unity government. The Iraqi legislators should be passing a national elections law any day. Several deadlines have gone and passed, but I know that the people of Iraq want to be sure that this law is passed and that elections are held as scheduled.

Additionally, a comprehensive hydrocarbon law is vital for regulating the oil sector. Parliament has delayed this vote until after January, but steps can be taken in the interim; for example, by holding transparent, credible auctions on oil and gas fields as we are seeing, and by making progress on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, so the Iraqi people will know what is being done with their nation's valuable resources.

But as the Iraqi Government continues to make its reforms, I urge U.S. businesses to really see all of the progress that has been made. The security situation has improved. The conditions for investment are stronger. And in the words of an Arab proverb, “Dawn does not come twice to awaken a man or a woman.” The world is watching for every opportunity to invest in Iraq, and companies that wait too long may discover they are too late.

I asked an Iraqi friend of mine, “What does Iraq need to really develop the way that the Iraqi people deserve?” And he said two things: patriots and investors. Patriots, people who put Iraq first, who overcome the lines that are sometimes used to divide in order to unify, and investors not only from within Iraq, but from without as well, who make a bet on a future of a country that has every potential for success.

Now, Iraq has its work cut out for it. But we believe strongly in Iraq's future. And the United States will use every tool of diplomacy to assist, from negotiations at the highest levels of government to technical and educational exchanges, to diplomatic efforts to resolve some of the lingering problems left by the prior regime. And in particular, we will encourage business partnerships that we think are in the best interest of both Iraq and the American people.

The American people have already invested a great deal in Iraq. Many families have paid the ultimate price for Iraq's freedom and stability. Now, as we end our military involvement in Iraq, we pledge to secure the gains that the American and Iraqi people have achieved, by affirming our commitment to work with our Iraqi partners to help them realize their own ambitions and aspirations.

It is a great honor for me to have the privilege of introducing our next speaker. Under his leadership, Iraq has taken important steps in the right direction, not only in terms of economic development, but in working toward a government that is truly national, rather than sectarian, a government that focuses on results for all of the Iraqi people. He has been our partner, and through the Strategic Framework Agreement that he signed, we trust that this partnership will flourish and produce results for the people of Iraq and people everywhere who believe that Iraq's future is unlimited.

So please, ladies and gentlemen, join me in welcoming Prime Minister Maliki.

President Barack Obama delivered this statement in Washington, DC

President Obama. I strongly condemn these outrageous attacks on the Iraqi people, and send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. These bombings serve no purpose other than the murder of innocent men, women and children, and they only reveal the hateful and destructive agenda of those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that they deserve. These attempts to derail Iraq's progress are no match for the courage and resilience of the Iraqi people, and their determination to build strong institutions. The United States will stand with Iraq's people and government as a close friend and partner as Iraqis prepare for elections early next year, continue to take responsibility for their future, and build greater peace and opportunity.

Together, we will continue to work for lasting security, dignity, and justice.

Readout of Vice President Biden's call with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki

Vice President Biden spoke today with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to discuss the President's decision on the way forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Vice President stressed that U.S. actions to reinforce Afghanistan will not come at the expense of the U.S.-Iraq bilateral relationship. Also, as he did with other Iraqi leaders over the weekend, the Vice President commended Prime Minister al-Maliki for working to find a solution to the election law impasse and encouraged an arrangement that would be fair to all sides and that would allow for national elections, as desired by the Iraqi people and as outlined in Iraq's constitution.

Statement by the Press Secretary on the passage of Iraq's revised election law

The United States congratulates the people of Iraq and their elected representatives for the passage of a revised election law, and we look forward to the holding of national elections. The negotiations that led to the passage of the election law demonstrate anew that the Iraqis and their leaders are committed to taking control of their future, and to resolving their differences peacefully and in accord with the Iraqi constitution.

Since 2005, the United States has supported the Iraqi constitution as the basis around which all Iraqis can protect their rights and work together to build national unity. That constitution, including the establishment of a Kurdistan Regional Government, has contributed to Iraqi stability. The United States reiterates its strong support for the Iraqi people and their elected government, and reaffirms its respect for the Iraqi constitution, including Article 140, which addresses the dispute over Kirkuk and other disputed internal borders, and Article 142, which addresses the process for constitutional amendments. We will continue to support the Iraqi people and their elected government as they work towards the full and fair implementation of the Iraqi constitution.

There are still challenges facing Iraq, including disagreements between the government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. The United States is ready to help all Iraqis come together to find new political solutions to ease old conflicts, remove old fears and build a future together as a united country with a proud, historic place in the international community.

Following the 2010 parliamentary elections, Iraq will hold elections in 2013 and 2014 in accordance with its constitution and laws. A current and thorough census will help facilitate the conduct of those future elections, and the United States remains ready to help the Government of Iraq conduct an accurate census next year as one element in support of a stable Iraq with a government that is fair and accountable to the Iraqi people.

The United States thanks the United Nations for its indispensible role in helping Iraqis prepare for the upcoming elections and pledges to sustain U.S. support for the UN mission in Iraq.

Readout of Vice President Biden's calls with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki

The Vice President spoke to both Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki earlier today. The Vice President conveyed the condolences of the American people to those Iraqis killed and injured in today's bombings in Baghdad. The United States strongly condemns these attacks on the Iraqi people and their elected government. The perpetrators of today's bombings will not succeed. The Iraqi people have repeatedly made clear they embrace a future of promise and progress and reject extremism and destruction. The United States will stand with the Iraqis and their government as a partner and a friend as they build national unity.

Secretary Robert Gates delivered these remarks at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq

Secretary Gates. I want to thank all of you for coming today, although I suspect more than a few of are—are volunteered for this duty today. Hope you haven't been standing around here waiting too long.

I know some of you are just finishing up your tours. And I just want you to know how grateful I am for the service that you've rendered over the last 12 months. Whether you're just rotating in or rotating out, you may have noticed that this theater has largely disappeared from the headlines. That's due to the sacrifices of too many of our comrades and too many of the sacrifices back home on the part of their families. But that doesn't mean that this theater isn't still important.

Your mission here is still critical to preserving the gains of recent years. This post, right on the Kurd-Arab fault line, will be increasingly important in the next several months. And your role in fostering cooperation here is essential in ensuring a credible election process and transfer of power.

That's the message that I conveyed to Prime Minister Maliki this morning and the message that I'll convey to Mr. Barzani this afternoon. And this effort will allow the Iraqis to consolidate the gains that they've had.

I just want you to know that as the holidays approach, everybody back home has you in their thoughts and prayers, and they also have your families in their thoughts and prayers. And I hope that when you communicate with your families the next time, that you will pass along to them my personal thanks for the support they give you and for the sacrifices that I know they put up with.

So what I'd like to do is take some questions. And then what I really want to do is have the opportunity to thank each of you individually, get a photograph with each of you and give you a coin, just as a small token of personal appreciation for your service to our country.

So with that, who's the intrepid soul who will have the first question? Over here. And no, you can't go home with me.

Q. Good morning, sir. Specialist Bacon, HHC Brigade from 1AD, paralegal specialist. My question to you this morning, sir, is, what type of training or operations can we expect to be implemented in reference to detainee operations so that we can prevent incidents such as the incident at the canal in Afghanistan?

Secretary Gates. Well, I think that—or we have some very specialized units in terms of detainee operations. And obviously we're in the middle of a huge transition here in Iraq.

When I first took this job, or maybe six months into it, in 2007, I think we reached a high point of somewhere near 25,000 detainees here in Iraq. We're down now, I think, to somewhere in the neighborhood of about 6,000. And I think that one of the concerns that we all have is, as these folks are released, how many of them are going to end up back in front of us.

And the reality is, there are no guarantees, and we can do as much training in terms of screening these guys; we can observe them; we can try and have the local authorities monitor them. And I think, for the most part, it's going to work out okay. But I think that the only way to—with all the training and with all the screening and everything else, the only way to avoid tragedies like that is frankly just for people to stay alert and to be on their guard around when we're dealing with these detainees and as we release them.

I'm not sure that's a satisfactory answer to your question, but I think it's a reflection of reality.

Q. Good morning, sir. Staff Sergeant—

Secretary Gates. By the way, I should say there's at least a 50–50 chance I won't be able to answer your question, and I'll tell you an honest answer when I can.

Q. Mr. Secretary, Staff Sergeant Wheeler from the 506th Air Expeditionary Group. My question, sir, is, considering the imminent drawdown of U.S. air forces in Iraq, what do you see our role as the U.S. Air Force's advise and assist mission to the new Iraqi air force?

Secretary Gates. Well, I think it's a—I think it's a role that I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see agreements between ourselves and the Iraqis that continues a “train, equip and advise” role beyond the end of 2011. They realize that they're probably not going to be ready.

And, in fact, I had this same conversation with some of our folks a couple of days ago in Kabul who were advising the new Afghan air force. And I told them— you know, they were saying, you know, you can't teach somebody to maintain or fly a helicopter in six months or 12 months.

And I think in both countries, that kind of a role is very likely to continue beyond the end of our combat operations. So I— you know, there's no agreement at that, for that, here in Iraq yet.

But I suspect as we get on through 2010 and begin approaching 2011 that the Iraqis themselves will probably have an interest in this because—in fact, I talked to the prime minister this morning about their equipment purchases, training and so on as they look at 2012 and beyond. And they clearly have some concerns.

So as I say, nothing has been said on either side about it at this point. But it wouldn't surprise me at all to see that that's going to be a longer-term relationship between the two countries.

Yeah.

Q. Mr. Secretary, Charlie Company— (inaudible). How is the Army's deployment tempo going to change with the drawdown of troops in Iraq and increased troops in Afghanistan?

Secretary Gates. How is what going to change in the deployment?

Q. The deployment tempo. Our dwell time, essentially.

Secretary Gates. Yeah. Obviously, we've got two ground forces involved in these operations, the Marine Corps and the Army. The Marine Corps now has a dwell time of about 1.5-to-one. And General Conway believes that they are on a track, even with the deployments to Afghanistan, of being able to get up to two-to-one: two years at home, one year deployed.

Army units at this point are about 1.1 to 1.2-to-one. And General Casey's view is that he will be able to continue moving in the direction of increasing toward his goal of two years at home, one year deployed. But that will be slowed by the deployments to Afghanistan.

The part that we worry about the most, frankly, is not the units themselves, but it is the people in the critical enablers—the low-density, high-demand areas, whether it's helicopter pilots; medevac; engineers; route clearance—all of those—intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. We're pushing those resources very hard. And those are some of the areas where I think some of the stress is the hardest on the force and where the tempo has been the highest. And it's hard to see where there's much relief in the near future for them.

So that's the piece that General Casey and Admiral Mullen and I are probably most worried about. The units—the dwell time will not decline, but it will increase more slowly than it would have without the surge in Iraq—in Afghanistan.

Yeah.

Q. Good morning, Mr. Secretary. My name is Specialist Millas (ph) of the Second Squadron, 6th U.S. Cavalry. And my question for you, sir, is with the elections coming up next year here in Iraq, if things don't go according to plan as far as the elections kind of getting worse, how is that going to affect the drawdown here?

Secretary Gates. Well, the way things are going right now, General Odierno is comfortable that he can stay with the plan that he has for the drawdown. I've talked to both the prime minister and—Prime Minister Maliki and to the Presidency Council last night about what can be done to ensure that after the elections there is a relatively quick formation of an inclusive government. That's clearly their objective. And because, frankly, my concern is that after the 2005 election, the fact that it took many months to put a government together really created an opening for the kind of sectarian violence that made things so bad by the end of 2006.

I think things have changed a lot. There is a commitment to not falling back into violence on the part of all of the major players. But I think having the new government formed as quickly as possible after the elections is really important.

At this point, the way everything is going, as I said, I think General Odierno feels like everything's still on track to maintain the same drawdown schedule that he's had for the past several months.

Q. Morning, sir. PFC Chagaris (sp) with 2-3 Field Artillery battalion and 1-1 Armored Division.

Mr. Secretary, yesterday in Baghdad you continued to deliver a message to press Iraqi Kurds and Arabs to settle their differences, because they have the potential to threaten Iraqi security in the long run. Do you feel confident that they will agree to disagree by August 2010, the timeline the president announced to end the war in Iraq? And could their refusal to get along interfere with the president's commitment to remove our troops out of Iraq by late 2011?

Secretary Gates. I think, based on— I'll—I met with Mr. Barzani not too long ago, talked to the prime minister about this this morning, talked to the Presidency Council about it last night. I actually think that they've made some real headway in recent—in recent weeks. And I would give General Odierno and our embassy real credit here, because I think they've played a really important role in facilitating the dialogue between the Kurds and the government, between the KRG and the government.

I would say at this point that, you know, this is perhaps the most worrisome issue here in Iraq as far as we're concerned. But the progress we have seen in the last 18 months or so here in Iraq, and the actions that ultimately by the council of representation—the Council of Representatives in passing legislation and addressing some of these issues—I think that there is no question that the Kurds see their future as part of a unified Iraq.

And what's at issue is the terms upon which that kind of goes forward. That's negotiable, and we'll do what we can. But at this point all the evidence that we see indicates that they will work out these differences. And to the degree we can help them, we will do that, but that they will do so in a timely way, so it won't affect our commitments here in Iraq.

Treasury designates insurgent group for posing threat to stability in Iraq

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated the Iraq-based insurgent group Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi (JRTN) for threatening the peace and stabilization efforts in Iraq. JRTN has committed, directed, supported, or posed a significant risk of committing acts of violence against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and is being designated today pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13438, which targets insurgent and militia groups and their supporters. Today's designation freezes any assets that JRTN may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions with the entity. The U.S. Government has no information indicating any tie between JRTN and the Naqshabandi Sufi order of Islam.

“Today's designation is an important step in protecting Coalition troops, Iraqi Security Forces, and innocent Iraqis from insurgent groups like JRTN that use violence to undermine Iraq's progress toward a more democratic and prosperous future,” aid Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey.

JRTN has conducted attacks against Coalition Forces in Iraq since April 2009, including the August RKG-3 (armor-penetrating grenade) attack against a Coalition Forces convoy in Hawijah, Iraq. Subsequently, a JRTN cell operating in Kirkuk, Iraq, fired rockets at the Kirkuk Regional Air Base in two separate attacks. As of mid-2009, JRTN planned to conduct attacks against Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces and intended to overthrow the Government of Iraq and reinstate Ba'ath Party rule. In mid-July, JRTN members were responsible for an improvised explosive device (IED) attack on Coalition Forces near an Iraqi police station in Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq. Later that month, JRTN detonated an IED targeting Coalition Forces in Kirkuk and in August, conducted an indirect fire attack on Joint Security Station McHenry in Kirkuk.

In December 2008, a JRTN member operating in Kirkuk purchased three Katyusha rockets and an undetermined number of magnetic improvised explosive devices that were intended to be used in attacks against Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraqi police or Government of Iraq officials. JRTN's Abu Ghurayb Brigade also targeted Coalition Forces stationed at or around Baghdad International Airport.

Web postings made by JRTN further demonstrate that the group conducted attacks against Coalition Forces. In a statement on the al-Mindar Network's website in May 2009, JRTN claimed to have conducted three separate attacks against Coalition Forces, including a May attack that destroyed a U.S. Humvee in Anbar Province, Iraq; an April 2009 sniper attack against a U.S. soldier in al-Ta'mim Province, Iraq; and the destruction of a U.S. vehicle in Anbar Province in April. In a separate instance, in August, JRTN posted a video of a military vehicle being hit by powerful explosion to the JRTN website, www.alnakshabandiaarmy.com.