Guide Note:In an April 9, 2008, White House speech, President George W. Bush declared that failure in Iraq would "embolden" Iran and create regional instability. In addition, President Bush warned Iran that continued support by the Tehran government for armed militias in Iraq would cause America "to protect our interests, and our troops, and our Iraqi partners." Bush characterized the the road ahead for Iran as one between the "right choice" of living in peace with Iraq and the "wrong choice" of encouraging attacks in Iraq.

Bush's remarks came a day after General David Petraeus testified before Congress that the biggest threat to Iraqi stability was cross-border incursions by Iranian-funded militias. Previously, the administration and military had maintained that Al Qaeda was the gravest threat to Iraq.

In the same speech, Bush announced a halt to troop withdrawals beginning in July 2008. Furthermore, Bush announced that tours-of-duty for future soldiers in Iraq will be twelve months, instead of the extended fifteen-month long tours soldiers have been serving since April 2007. Excerpts

1. "If we fail there, Al Qaeda would claim a propaganda victory of colossal proportions, and they could gain safe havens in Iraq, from which to attack the United States, our friends and our allies..."
2. "Iran would work to fill the vacuum in Iraq, and our failure would embolden its radical leaders and fuel their ambitions to dominate the region."
3. "Iraq is the convergence point for two of the greatest threats to America in this new century: Al Qaeda and Iran."
4. "If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. If Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests, our troops and our Iraqi partners."
5. "General David Petraeus says he'll need time to consolidate his forces and assess how this reduced American presence will affect conditions on the ground before making measured recommendations on further reductions. And I've told him he'll have all the time he needs."

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