WASHINGTON: Following are a selection of remarks by US President George W. Bush about the Iraq war since it began in March 2003: “Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”

- May 1, 2003, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln under a banner declaring “Mission Accomplished.”

“I hope there’s not an expectation from people that all of a sudden there’s going to be zero violence ... It’s just not going to be the case.”

- June 14, 2006, White House Rose Garden.

“We will stay the course, we will help this young Iraqi democracy succeed, and victory in Iraq will be a major ideological triumph in the struggle of the 21st century.”

- Aug 30, 2006, Salt Lake City.

“Stay the course means keep doing what you’re doing. My attitude is, don’t do what you’re doing if it’s not working -- change. Stay the course also means don’t leave before the job is done. We’re going to get the job done in Iraq.”

- Oct 11, 2006, White House Rose Garden.

“It’s my responsibility to provide the American people with a candid assessment on the way forward ... Absolutely, we’re winning.”

- Oct 25, 2006, White House East Room.

“We’re not winning, we’re not losing.”

- Dec 19, 2006, interview with The Washington Post (published on Dec 20).

“The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people -- and it is unacceptable to me ... Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.

- Jan 10, 2007, White House library.

“Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq -- and I ask you to give it a chance to work.”

- Jan 23, 2007, State of the Union address to Congress.

“The struggle in Iraq may be hard, but this should not be a time for despair.”

- March 6, 2007, speech to American Legion in Washington.—Reuters