President meets with top advisers to discuss Iraq’s post-Zarqawi future

CAMP DAVID, Md. (Map, News) - President Bush huddled with his top advisers at Camp David on Monday to discuss the future of Iraq now that its top terrorist, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has been killed by U.S. forces.

“I fully recognize that’s not going to end the war,” Bush said at the end of one meeting that lasted 3 1/2 hours. “On the other hand, it was a major blow to al-Qaida and the killers and terrorists that are trying to spread violence and suffering, and stop the emergence of a new democracy.”

White House Counselor Dan Bartlett said Bush and his Cabinet viewed Zarqawi’s death as a “fundamental break point for the Iraqi people.” But he cautioned that many dangers remain. “The post-Zarqawi climate is still viewed as serious and vexing,” Bartlett told reporters. “It’s still too early to tell.”

Bush was briefed via secure videoconference by his senior advisers in Iraq, including U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Gens. George Casey and John Abizaid. Bush said they made “recommendations to us on how to win in Iraq, to have an Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself.”

Bartlett said the group discussed “bolstering the Baghdad area, how intelligence is developing … and how to act on that intelligence.”

The meeting was held in Aspen Lodge, one of many rustic structures on the 125-acre presidential retreat in Maryland. Bush was joined by his national security team, including Vice President Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

The president was scheduled to spend the afternoon meeting with outside experts Michael Vickers, Fred Kagan, Robert Kaplan and Elliott Cohen.

Today, Bush and his Cabinet will confer, via secure videoconference, with the Cabinet of Iraq’s fledgling unity government. The president will then return to Washington.

bsammon@dcexaminer.com

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