August 21, 2006: Text of Bush’s news conference (AP)

  • And therefore those who heralded the decision not to give law enforcement the tools necessary to protect the American people just simply don’t see the world the way we do. They see maybe these kind of isolated incidents. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re tied together. There is a global war going on.
  • And the American people have got to understand the consequence of leaving Iraq before the job is done. We’re not going to leave Iraq before the job is done and we’ll complete the mission in Iraq. I can’t tell you exactly when it’s going to be done, but I do know that it’s important for us to support the Iraqi people who have shown incredible courage in their desire to live in a free society. And if we ever give up the desire to help people live in freedom, we will have lost our soul as a nation, as far as I’m concerned.
  • And again, I repeat: These are decent people. They’re just as American as I am. I just happen to strongly disagree with them. And it’s very important for the American people to understand the consequences of leaving Iraq before the job is done.

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