(25 Jan 2007)
1. Wide of room
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"We have no more solemn duty than to protect America in this war against extremists and radicals. I'm looking forward to our discussion about the theatres in which you are representing America. I'm looking forward to to our discussion about the new way forward in Iraq. I thank you for your service."
3. Cutaway of generals
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"I also called upon the Senate to move quickly to confirm Lt. Gen. (David) Petraeus as commander of the Multi-National Forces Iraq, Admiral (William) Fallon as the commander of Central Command and General (|George) Casey as the Army Chief of Staff. It is important to get these three fine individuals in their posts as soon as possible so that we have continuity as we do our duty to protect the American people."
5. Wide of table
6. Cutaway of generals
STORYLINE:
US President George W Bush has asked the US Senate to quickly confirm the top commanders he has chosen to oversee the war in Iraq.
"It is important to get these three fine individuals in their posts as soon as possible so that we have continuity as we do our duty to protect the American people," Bush said in Washington on Wednesday.
He was referring to Admiral William Fallon, chosen to replace General John Abizaid, the top US commander overseeing the military theatre that includes Iraq; Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, nominated to be the new chief commander in Iraq; and Gen. George Casey, leaving the top Iraq job to take over from the retiring Gen. Peter Schoomaker as Army chief of staff.
The Senate must approve all three nominations. Late on Wednesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously voted to approve Petraeus and sent his nomination to the full Senate.
Bush's comments came before an annual gathering with top military brass.
The meeting in the Cabinet Room drew the Joint Chiefs of Staff and combatant commanders to talk about Iraq, Afghanistan, terrorism, maintaining a strong military and the defence budget.
The meeting came shortly after a Senate committee dismissed the president's decision to send 21,500 more US troops to Iraq as "not in the national interest".
The Democrat-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 12-9 to pass the non-binding resolution - a rare repudiation of a commander in chief during wartime.
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