We've got to ensure that the quality and the capability of these forces will be good enough to withstand the challenges that the insurgents and the terrorists will present to the new Iraqi government.

Nobody's more mindful of the sacrifices of our troops than those of us that command them.

We'll try to include Iraqi officers in our staffs. We will do everything we can to empower Iraqi security forces to stand up on their own and operate where they can alone.

And over time, I think, as Iraqi security capacity builds, you'll see American and coalition presence there decline.

I think you also understand that one of the key things that's got to be done in Iraq is to build a mentality of understanding that the military needs to be subordinate to civilian control and respectful of its own people.

Everybody needs to understand that I learned Arabic from the United States Army as a second language. I never spoke it at home.

So, these political activities will create friction in and of themselves, and in this environment of friction there'll be additional violence.