The Volokh Conspiracy - Bush on Iraq: "We're Not Leaving So Long as I'm President":

In a press conference today, President Bush seemed to rule out the possibility of an exit from Iraq at some point in the next two-and-a-half years. [but see update below] The key exchange:

Q . Mr. President, I'd like to go back to Iraq. You've continually cited the elections, the new government, its progress in Iraq, and yet the violence has gotten worse in certain areas. You've had to go to Baghdad again. Is it not time for a new strategy? And if not, why not?

* * *

THE PRESIDENT: The strategy is to help the Iraqi people achieve their objectives and their dreams, which is a democratic society. That's the strategy. The tactics — now, either you say, yes, its important we stay there and get it done, or we leave. We're not leaving, so long as I'm the President. That would be a huge mistake. It would send an unbelievably terrible signal to reformers across the region. It would say we've abandoned our desire to change the conditions that create terror. It would give the terrorists a safe haven from which to launch attacks. It would embolden Iran. It would embolden extremists.

No, we're not leaving. The strategic objective is to help this government succeed. That's the strategic — and not only to help the government — the reformers in Iraq succeed, but to help the reformers across the region succeed to fight off the elements of extremism. The tactics are which change. Now, if you say, are you going to change your strategic objective, it means you're leaving before the mission is complete. And we're not going to leave before the mission is complete. I agree with General Abizaid: We leave before the mission is done, the terrorists will follow us here.

(emphasis added)

UPDATE: A few commenters suggest I may be misinterpreting this. The video is here, and the exchange appears about 1/3 the way through; after watching it a few times, I think the commenters may be right. In context, the President may be saying, in effect, "we're not leaving prematurely, so long as I'm President" rather than a flat statement that we're not leaving, period.

	[Orin Kerr, August 21, 2006 at 5:38pm] Trackbacks Bush on Iraq: "We're Not Leaving So Long as I'm President": In a press conference today, President Bush seemed to rule out the possibility of an exit from Iraq at some point in the next two-and-a-half years. [but see update below] The key exchange: Q . Mr. President, I'd like to go back to Iraq. You've continually cited the elections, the new government, its progress in Iraq, and yet the violence has gotten worse in certain areas. You've had to go to Baghdad again. Is it not time for a new strategy? And if not, why not? * * * THE PRESIDENT: The strategy is to help the Iraqi people achieve their objectives and their dreams, which is a democratic society. That's the strategy. The tactics — now, either you say, yes, its important we stay there and get it done, or we leave. We're not leaving, so long as I'm the President. That would be a huge mistake. It would send an unbelievably terrible signal to reformers across the region. It would say we've abandoned our desire to change the conditions that create terror. It would give the terrorists a safe haven from which to launch attacks. It would embolden Iran. It would embolden extremists. No, we're not leaving. The strategic objective is to help this government succeed. That's the strategic — and not only to help the government — the reformers in Iraq succeed, but to help the reformers across the region succeed to fight off the elements of extremism. The tactics are which change. Now, if you say, are you going to change your strategic objective, it means you're leaving before the mission is complete. And we're not going to leave before the mission is complete. I agree with General Abizaid: We leave before the mission is done, the terrorists will follow us here. (emphasis added) UPDATE: A few commenters suggest I may be misinterpreting this. The video is here, and the exchange appears about 1/3 the way through; after watching it a few times, I think the commenters may be right. In context, the President may be saying, in effect, "we're not leaving prematurely, so long as I'm President" rather than a flat statement that we're not leaving, period.