Good: “Victory in Iraq is not going to be like victory in World War II.”

Bad:

At his press conference, going on now, the president just dissed John Bolton’s assessment of the North Korean deal, in response to a question from FNC’s Bret Baier. “Flat wrong” W. added.

This is going to be a long stretch without Bolton at the U.N., won’t it?

-Kathryn Lopez, NRO

Liveblogging: Mark Memmott, USAToday…

11:20 a.m. ET: The president was asked about comments this week by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said he isn’t sure the government of Iran has ordered that weapons be supplied to insurgents in Iraq. “Either they knew or they didn’t know,” that some Iranian weapons have ended up in Iraq, Bush said. “What’s worse? That the government knew or that the government didn’t know?”

11:13 a.m. ET. Don’t prejudge Iraq plan: Of the debate underway in Congress over non-binding resolutions that oppose his plans in Iraq, the president said “it opposes our new plan before it has a chance to work.” While Congress has the right to debate the policy, Bush said, it also needs to approve funding that will give U.S. troops what they need to carry out their missions in Iraq.

11:07 a.m. ET. Securing Baghdad “will take time:” In his opening remarks, the president spoke about an update he got this morning from Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, the new U.S. commander in Iraq. “The operation to secure Baghdad is going to take time,” Bush said, “and there’s going to be violence.” He is aware, the president added, that U.S. and Iraqi forces will not be able to stop all suicide bombers and others who want to disrupt progress in Iraq.

But, “to step back from the fight in Baghdad would have disastrous consequences for people in America,” Bush said. If “we fail there, the enemy will follow us here.”

11:33am. Reporter asks about troop morale, noting diassatisfaction among some. Note to President: Take some time to read the milblogs.

11:38am. Regarding the House surge debate: “When I speak, I’m very conscious about the audience that is listening to my words…the enemy is listening. The Iraqi people. The Iranians.”

11:46am. Do you have to support the war to support the warrior? “Someone who doesn’t agree with my policy is just as patriotic as I am.”

11:47am. Bush plugs Mike Allen’s Politico.Com. David Gregory endorses. Geez. If only he’d plug a conservative blog the same way one of these days! Question: How is Bush’s effort to work with Democrats going. Answer: We’re all patriots. Kumbaya. Let’s all work together. Kumbaya. Ok, that’s not verbatim. Seeks agreement on a balanced budget. His amnesty plan.

11:55am. David Gregory looks at his watch and Bush notes it. Who’s press conference is this? Bush makes a joke about his dad’s 1992 debate watch-gazing.

***

12:03pm. John Bolton on Fox News talks North Korea. “We’ve stepped into a big bowl of molasses…I’m greatly worried that we’ve given up what leverage we had to pressure them to dismantle their nuclear weapons program.” More here.

Bolton on Iran in Iraq: The proper analytical framing is, Does the intelligence have a solid foundation? The notion that it was wrong before and must be wrong now is just not true.

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