As Long As It Takes
From the Bush-Blair press conference today:
Q And, Mr. President, can you help me understand the timing of this war? You talked yesterday that it will be – we’re far from over. Today you said, it’s going slowly, but surely we’re working our way to our end goal. Given that the resistance has been as strong as it’s been in the south, and that we have what you call the most hardened, most desperate forces still around Baghdad, are we to assume that this is going to last – could last months and not weeks – and not days?THE PRESIDENT: I’ll answer that question very quickly and then get to his. However long it takes to win. That’s –
Q – take months?
THE PRESIDENT: However long it takes to achieve our objective. And that’s important for you to know, the American people to know, our allies to know, and the Iraqi people to know.
Q It could be months?
THE PRESIDENT: However long it takes. That’s the answer to your question and that’s what you’ve got to know. It isn’t a matter of timetable, it’s a matter of victory. And the Iraqi people have got to know that, see. They’ve got to know that they will be liberated and Saddam Hussein will be removed, no matter how long it takes.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is not going to be another Mogadishu. We’re winning overwhelmingly and we’re going all the way.