Today, President Bush will participate in a breakfast with General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Later, the President will make a statement on Iraq.

This morning, Mrs. Bush will participate in a First Bloom activity and deliver remarks at Williams Preparatory School. This evening, she will deliver remarks and accept Methodist Health System's 2008 Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award.

President Bush Says "We Ought To Take A Look" Before Continuing Reductions Of U.S. Forces In Iraq. "The president maintained that the drawdown currently underway – from a peak of 20 brigades down to 15 brigades in July – was prudent: 'David Petraeus is right, we can go down to 15.' But then, the president emphasized, Petraeus 'wants to wait and see. And I strongly support that. And therefore [I] won't commit beyond July.' So, the president said, at the heart of his speech today 'are a couple of questions . . . two big questions that will be answered. . . . One is, are we good enough to take the 20 out to 15? The answer is yes. Will [we] . . . take out any more beyond that? And my answer is no. I'm not going to say that. I'm going to say that I agree with David, that we ought to take a look.' And, the president continued, it will be a look or an assessment, not a 'pause.' '''Pause' is the wrong word – because I'm going to explain why – you don't pause in the middle of a war; you continue to conduct war, you assess. And do I hope that we can continue "return on success"? Yes, I do hope so. Do I guarantee it? No, I don't' … The president also emphasized that getting to 15 brigades would allow for a rotation schedule for the active force of one year in, one year out. That, he said, would 'begin to handle this issue of stress.' The president explained that he sympathized with the strain on the troops and their families. But, he said, 'the biggest stress would be defeat.'" (William Kristol, "'My Answer Is No,'" The Weekly Standard, 4/10/08)

President Bush Signs Second Chance Act Into Law. "President Bush yesterday reached across traditional political dividing lines to sign into law a broad program that provides federal grants for assistance to ex-convicts, pointing to his own struggle with alcohol addiction as an example of redemption. … 'We believe that even those who have struggled with a dark past can find brighter days ahead,' Bush said in his remarks, which included numerous references to renewal and a brief mention of his own vow years ago to quit drinking. … The law would provide $326 million in grants to local governments and nonprofit groups for various programs aimed at departing or former convicts, including housing and medical assistance, drug treatment and employment services. … White House spokesman Tony Fratto compared Bush's support of the Second Chance Act to administration initiatives to combat AIDS and malaria in the developing world, efforts to combine a moral goal with pragmatic concerns. 'It's the confluence of a belief in the power of redemption, which is something that he feels strongly about, and the practical side of it,' Fratto said. 'He doesn't believe our prisons should be crime factories.'" (Dan Eggen, "Bush Signs Into Law A Program That Gives Grants To Former Convicts," The Washington Post, 4/10/08)

President Bush Says "It Would Stand The Chinese Government In Good Stead If They Would Begin A Dialouge With The Representatives For The Dalai Lama." "President Bush is calling on China to reach out to the Dalai Lama to find a solution to the unrest in Tibet. Bush says 'it would stand the Chinese government in good stead if they would begin a dialogue with the representatives for the Dalai Lama.' The president spoke about the civil unrest in Tibet and China's crackdown there on Wednesday with Singapore's senior minister, Goh Chok Tong. Violent clashes in Tibet are threatening to overshadow China's hosting role of the Summer Olympics in August. Bush said Wednesday that if China's leaders ever were to reach out to Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, 'they'd find him to be a really fine man, a peaceful man.'" (Ben Feller, "Bush Urges China To Meet With Dalai Lama," The Washington Post, 4/9/08)

General David Petraeus Discusses Troop Levels In Iraq. "Petraeus has recommended to President Bush that the United States complete, by the end of July, the withdrawal of 30,000 combat and support troops that were sent to Iraq last year to help calm the violence. Beyond that, the general proposed a 45-day evaluation period, to be followed by an indefinite period of assessment before he'd recommend further pullouts. 'We think it makes sense to have some time, to let the dust settle, perhaps to do some adjustment of forces, re-evaluation,' he told the House Armed Services Committee. Bush is scheduled to address the nation on his decision about troop levels in Iraq at 11:30 a.m. ET today from the White House. … White House spokeswoman Dana Perino also said it is 'within the realm of possibility' that Bush would discuss the length of soldiers' tours of duty in Iraq. … 'I think the president has gotten a lot of advice,' she said. 'I think he's pretty far down the path of what he's going to say tomorrow.' … Wednesday's hearing marked the second day of testimony by Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Both described Iraq as a fragile state and warned that hard-fought security gains could slip if troops leave too soon." ("Petraeus: Slim Chance Of Any New Buildup," The Associated Press, 4/10/08)

Iraqi Ambassador To The United States Samir Sumaida'ie Says "The Surge … Has Produced Tangible Results. It Is Not Time To Give Up." "The achievements which Iraqis have accomplished under fire spanning the security, economic and political spheres stand as a testimony to their determination to succeed. Yet the challenges the Iraqi government still faces are daunting. In addition to fighting terrorists and extremists, the government needs to reform its security forces and bureaucracy, purging them of sectarian discrimination and debilitating corruption. Only by doing this will it be able to deliver better services to its citizens and obtain full legitimacy. Today, the world is facing a new and dangerous threat of international extremism and terrorism. The epicenter of this confrontation is Iraq. … But this enemy can and must be defeated. As the struggles of the last century shaped our world, this struggle will shape the world for generations to come. … This endeavor is costly, in every sense. But failure would be immeasurably costlier. That is why we need to build a long-term strategic alliance, and to make it work. It is in this context that we must look at the current negotiations between the U.S. and Iraq to reach a Status of Forces Agreement and a Strategic Framework Agreement." (Samir Sumaida'ie, Op-Ed, "Iraq's National Identity Is Alive And Growing," The Wall Street Journal, 4/10/08)

Secretary Of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez And Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) Say "For The Sake Of Our Nation's Security And Prosperity, And Ensuring Stability In A Volatile Part Of The World, We Should Pass This Critical Agreement With Colombia" "For more than 16 years we've had one-way free trade with Colombia. Congress has given most Colombian imports duty-free access to the American market, while American exporters to Colombia still pay hundreds of millions in tariffs each year. Today, 9,000 U.S. companies export nearly $9 billion to Colombia. However, when we make duty-free trade with Colombia a two-way street those numbers will grow. … Free-trade agreements not only boost economic progress, but they also symbolize a commitment to national security and social justice. Recent tensions have revealed the continued threat facing Colombia. It is critical that the United States supports Colombia in its fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. The free-trade agreement is an important way to help achieve these goals and support stability in a region with unpredictable neighbors. Others will be looking closely at what we do in Colombia. They will be watching to see if we turn our back on a key ally and on the undeniable progress that Colombia has made. The Colombia Free Trade Agreement is an important indicator for the direction our nation is headed. Will we remain at the forefront, breaking down barriers to trade and commerce and fostering growing democracy, prosperity and hope? Or will we retreat into a period of economic isolationism and protectionism?" (Carlos M. Gutierrez and John Cornyn, Op-Ed, "Free Trade With Colombia Will Benefit North And South," The Dallas Morning News, 4/10/08)

The Wall Street Journal Says Failure To Vote On The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement "Will Damage The Economic And Security Interests Of The U.S. While Trashing Our Best Ally In Latin America." "The Democratic Party's protectionist make-over was completed yesterday, when Nancy Pelosi decided to kill the Colombia free trade agreement. Her objections had nothing to do with the evidence and everything to do with politics, but this was an act of particular bad faith. It will damage the economic and security interests of the U.S. while trashing our best ally in Latin America. The Colombia trade pact was signed in 2006 and renegotiated last year to accommodate Democratic demands for tougher labor and environmental standards. Even after more than 250 consultations with Democrats, and further concessions, including promises to spend more on domestic unemployment insurance, the deal remained stalled in Congress. Apparently the problem was that Democrats kept getting their way. … Today Ms. Pelosi will make an ex post facto change to House rules to avoid the required vote, withdrawing from the timetable and thus relegating the Colombia deal to a perhaps permanent limbo. ... For good measure, the double-cross dismantles the only process that allows any Administration to conduct good-faith negotiations with foreign nations. No one is going to take the U.S. at its word if Congress is going to change the rules when it has second thoughts and renege." (Editorial, "Pelosi's Bad Faith," The Wall Street Journal, 4/10/08)

The Washington Post Says Passing The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement "Should Be A No-Brainer." "Yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared her intention to change the procedural rules governing the proposed trade promotion agreement with Colombia. President Bush submitted the pact to Congress on Tuesday for a vote within the next 90 legislative days, as required by the 'fast-track' authority under which the U.S. negotiated the deal with Colombia. Ms. Pelosi says she'll ask the House to undo that rule. … That political turf-staking, and the Democrats' decreasingly credible claims of a death-squad campaign against Colombia's trade unionists, constitutes all that's left of the case against the agreement. Economically, it should be a no-brainer – especially at a time of rising U.S. joblessness. At the moment, Colombian exports to the United States already enjoy preferences. The trade agreement would make those permanent, but it would also give U.S. firms free access to Colombia for the first time, thus creating U.S. jobs. Politically, too, the agreement is in the American interest, as a reward to a friendly, democratic government that has made tremendous strides on human rights, despite harassment from Venezuela's Hugo Chavez." (Editorial, "Drop Dead, Colombia," The Washington Post, 4/10/08)

Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice Says "We Are Looking At The Possibility Of Setting Up A Consulate In Tibet." "The US State Department would like to set up a consulate in Tibet where China so far has allowed limited and insufficient access to US diplomats, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday. 'We are looking at the possibility of a consulate in Tibet,' Rice told the Senate Appropriations Committee. The United States 'has been very active in making the case to the Chinese that they are going to be better off to deal with moderate forces on Tibet like the Dalai Lama, that they should open a dialogue with him,' she added. Rice told the committee that the United States 'pressed for consular access for diplomats into Tibet. We got some limited access, but frankly it wasn't good enough.' Commenting on the possibility of a consulate in the capital Lhasa, she said 'it's on the internal list to take a look (at) when we could do it.'" ("US Interested In Setting Up Tibet Consulate," Agence France-Presse, 4/9/08)

Administration Announces Plan To Help American Homeowners. "White House press secretary Dana Perino said the administration plan 'is not a silver bullet that will solve all the problems in housing, but it will help some additional people stay in their homes.' 'That's something the president wants to see,' she said. The White House proposal is aimed at homeowners who owe more on their mortgage than their home is actually worth and who might have missed a few payments but otherwise are in good credit standing. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), under the plan, would insure loans if mortgage companies wrote down the value of the note from 90 percent to 97 percent of the new value. The mortgage would go into the FHA Secure program, and the FHA would then absorb the risk of the loan, backed by the premiums paid to the FHA by other borrowers. The Bush administration already has helped about 130,000 homeowners refinance their subprime loans under the FHA Secure program, which they started last summer to address the housing crisis. By the end of the year, they hope to have helped 500,000 homeowners avoid foreclosure." (Jon Ward, "White House Seeks To Reduce Mortgage Costs," The Washington Times, 4/10/08)

To subscribe directly to this mailing list, please e-mail WhiteHouseCommunications@whitehouse.gov.