Bush outlines steps to Iraqi self-rule
(CNN) -- President George W. Bush spoke to the country Monday night on America's plans for the handover of power to Iraq, scheduled to take place June 30.
He spoke at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
"America's task in Iraq is not only to defeat an enemy, it is to give strength to a friend -- a free, representative government that serves its people and fights on their behalf," Bush said.
"And the sooner this goal is achieved, the sooner our job will be done."
The 31-minute speech was the first of six presidential addresses on Iraq in the weeks leading up to the June 30 handover of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government, the White House said.
Bush outlined the five steps in the U.S. plan to help Iraq achieve democracy and freedom:
• Handing over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government.
• Establishing security.
• Continuing to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure.
• Encouraging more international support.
• Moving toward a national election in Iraq that "will bring forward new leaders empowered by the Iraqi people."
Handing over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government >>
