WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush spoke with top military leaders and state reconstruction teams in Iraq via teleconference before departing for Michigan Wednesday.
Bush said, following a conversation with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and top U.S. commander Gen. Ray Odierno, that the provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq are making great progress in the war-torn country.
"And one of the main reasons why is we're implementing an innovative strategy that combines our military with civilian expertise to help people at the grassroots level build a society that will lay the foundation for peace," the president said.
Bush thanked the civilian officials working in Iraq to bring democracy to the region and develop strategies to rebuild the country from the provincial level on up to the central government.
"We are fortunate to have citizens such as yourself," he told the civilian teams. "Thank you."
Bush arrived in Grand Rapids, Mich., Wednesday afternoon to meet with state leaders, banking officials and others to discuss the economic situation in the country.
