The President`s Plan For Victory During an emotional speech today at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, the President explained his exit strategy for Iraq to an audience of Navy Cadets. He said To all who wear the uniform, I make you this pledge: America will not run in the face of carbombers and assassins so long as I am your commander in chief. He asserted that "no artificial timetables [will be] set by politicians in Washington." The President promised to stay the course, and troop levels will decrease over time, as Iraqis continue to take on more of the security and civilian responsibility themselves.
In support of the President s consistent strategy, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said, as quoted in this Time Magazine article, Quitting is not an exit strategy Cutting and running is unspeakable if we retreat from Iraq, the terrorists will pursue us and our allies, expanding the fight to the rest of the region and our own shores.