John Abizaid

“But the key shift in focus will be from counter-insurgency operations to more and more cooperation with Iraqi security forces and to building Iraqi security capacity.”

“Well, the reports are correct that we're conducting very robust military operations on the Afghan side of the border in areas where we think al-Qaida is operating and Taliban remnants are.”

“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.”

“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.”

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

“You know as well as I do that counterinsurgency is a very nuanced type of military operation.”

“Certainly our goal is to leave Iraq, but we can't leave Iraq with our forces until we know that the Iraqi security forces are capable and efficient enough to defend the sovereignty of the nation.”

“Being on the run, having to change the way that you do business, being unable to plan in a safe and secure environment, always looking over your shoulder, knowing that some day somebody's going to knock on your door and it's going to be your last.”

“Well, the hardest thing to do, as we know from our own experience on 9/11 is protect everything all the time.”

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

“But I am satisfied that the information that we have that this is the work of Zarqawi, is accurate.”

“It's clear to me now that we've got to reach out to the Arab Sunni community in particular in an effort to cause some moderate political activity to take place so they join the future of Iraq.”

“But my Arabic is pretty good. It's good enough to have conversations with people, to understand what they say, to understand what they're feeling.”

“Morale is good; troops are confident; leaders are capable.”

“I think you will see a lot of strains develop in the political process that will result in violence everywhere in the country - but it's controllable, it's workable and it will lead to a much better future for these people.”

“But the truth of the matter is that there is there is an opportunity for them to participate in the economic and political future of the country and certainly in the security life of the country.”

“Clearly the Secretary of Defense, my boss, would like nothing better than to get Osama bin Laden and to get... to ensure the complete defeat of al-Qaida, because we know that al-Qaida is planning operations against the United States even as we speak here.”

“Our forces will not be on the sidelines.”

“As far as Zarqawi is concerned, there is a network of extremists; it's not just Zarqawi.”

“Every American soldier wants as much public support as he can possibly have. That's the soldiers on duty in Iraq, and that's me, as well. We fight better knowing that our people back home support us, back us, and understand what we're doing. It's hugely important.”