White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president was satisfied with the progress that has been made in the country that will enable Iraq's military to take over security operations at that time.
Obama met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, national security adviser James Jones and, by videoconference, the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno (oh-dee-EHR'-noh).
Still, Gibbs said that despite a recent lull in violence, an "uptick in violence" is expected in the run-up to the Aug. 31 turnover.
