President to nominate three to Administration

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate three individuals to serve in his Administration:

The President intends to nominate Jeffrey Thomas Bergner, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs. Dr. Bergner is a Senior Transatlantic Fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He also serves as adjunct professor of national security studies at Georgetown University. Prior to this, Dr. Bergner served as the Founding President and Managing Partner of Bergner, Bockorny, Castagnetti, Hawkins and Brain. Earlier in his career, he served as Staff Director for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He also served as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Senator Richard Lugar. Dr. Bergner received his bachelor's degree from Carleton College and his master's degree and PhD from Princeton University.

The President intends to nominate Susan McCaw, of Washington, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Austria. Mrs. McCaw is President of COM Investments and Managing Partner of Eagle Creek Capital. Previously, she was a Principal at Robertson Stephens & Company, a San Francisco-based investment bank. Prior to that, Mrs. McCaw was the Director of Corporate Development at Resna Industries. Earlier in her career, she served as a Business Analyst for McKinsey & Company in New York and Hong Kong. Mrs. McCaw received her bachelor's degree from Stanford University and her master's degree from Harvard Business School.

The President intends to nominate Nicholas F. Taubman, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Romania. Mr. Taubman is President of Mozart Investments. He previously served as Chairman of Advanced Auto Parts. Mr. Taubman held a number of other positions, including Chief Executive Officer and President, throughout his over 45 years with the company. Mr. Taubman received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

### For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, October 5, 2005, Personnel Announcement

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Bush, Rumsfeld, Generals Pace and Petraeus, Discuss Iraq (VIDEO)

President Meets with Secretary Rumsfeld, Generals Pace and Petraeus to Discuss Progress in Iraq, FULL STREAMING VIDEO, The Rose Garden, 10:43 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: I just had a briefing from Secretary Rumsfeld and General Pace on our ongoing operations in the western part of Iraq. As you know, we're on the offense against insurgents and terrorists. We fully understand they intend to disrupt the constitutional process, or will try to do so, as well as stop the progress of democracy. And part of the way the Pentagon and the folks on the ground are going to deal with it, is to stay on the offense, and that's what's taking place.

I was also pleased to hear there are 3,000 Iraqi forces in the fight; that they're doing a fine job out there, that they're -- they make a difference on the battlefield.

We also have General Petraeus with us, who has served incredibly well in Iraq. His job was to help U.S. forces and coalition forces train the Iraqis so they can take the fight to the enemy. He briefed me, and will be briefing the country at the Pentagon here a little later on, about the strong progress that we're making; that we've recruited a lot of folks, but we've got more than just recruitment going on. We've got a quality control program in place to make sure that the troops we train are capable of taking the fight to the enemy. Over 30 percent of the Iraqi troops are in the lead on these offensive operations. We've got troops embedded with them and it's important for the training mission.

But, nevertheless, the Iraqis are showing more and more capability to take the fight to the enemy. And that's how we're going to succeed in helping democracy become established in Iraq. I've told the American people all along our troops will stay there as long as necessary. We'll do the job, we'll train these folks, and as they become more capable, we will be able to bring folks home with the honor they've earned.

And we're seeing progress on the ground. And we're also seeing political progress on the ground. The constitution has been written; folks will have a chance to vote it up or down here this month. And then there will be elections, if the constitution is approved, for a permanent government.

So on the one hand, we're making progress when it comes to training Iraqis to take the fight to the enemy, we're bringing the enemy to justice, we're on the offense. On the other hand, democracy is moving forward in a part of the world that is so desperate for democracy and so desperate for freedom.

And so, General, I want to thank you for your service -- General Petreaus.

GENERAL PETREAUS: Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for your service, too. But thank you for your service. You've done a fine job.

GENERAL PETREAUS: Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: I'm proud of you. Thank you all, very much.

END 10:46 A.M. EDT, For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, October 5, 2005

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