AMMAN, 1 December 2006 — US President George W. Bush yesterday extended support to the embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, describing him a “strong leader.”
Addressing a joint press conference with Maliki after a two-hour meeting, Bush said the US troops would remain in Iraq until the “job is done.”
“We believe the success of Maliki’s government is crucial to the success in Iraq,” the American president said. “We support this government because the government understands it was elected by the people,” he added.
Bush said he was “reassured by his (Maliki’s) commitment to a pluralist society, to a politically united society.”
Responding to a question about whether he had a timetable for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, Bush said that his forces would go back home when their “job is complete.” He said that the withdrawal of the US-led multinational troops in Iraq would take place “as soon as possible,” and when the Iraqi Army and police force become capable of protecting their country.
However, he warned that any premature pullout “will only embolden terrorists, will only embolden extremists and will dash the hopes of millions of people who want to live in a free society.”
Bush said that he agreed with Maliki on moves for “accelerating the capacity” of the Iraqi Army and police force to enable them defend the country against Al-Qaeda and other insurgent groups which viewed Iraq as a safe haven.
“My plan and his plan is to accelerate the Iraqis’ responsibilities; we want him to be in the lead in taking the fight against the enemies of his own country, and that exactly is what we discussed today,” he said.
“The prime minister is working hard to overcome many obstacles in the way to a peaceful Iraq and we want to help him,” he added.
The American president said that he was “very worried” over Iran’s nuclear program as well as its meddling in Lebanese and Palestinian affairs.
Bush reiterated support to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other moderate governments in the region and implicitly criticized Hamas for its failure to recognize Israel.
“Abu Mazen deserves the support of the world, and he deserves support in keeping his government away from those who do not recognize Israel’s right to exist,” Bush said, alluding to the power struggle between Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah group.
Many Iraqis held out little hope the promises of security made by Maliki and Bush would translate into peace on the ground. At Baghdad’s Pizza Land near the fortified Green Zone, from where the government rules, diners enjoyed their meals, with scant few paying attention to the small television in the corner broadcasting the Bush-Maliki news conference from Jordan.
Ali, adding salad to his kebab sandwich, said he thought neither Bush or Maliki could solve Iraq’s problems. “The real problem is not with them. We as Iraqis have to be convinced of a peaceful solution and stop fighting each other,” he said.
Most of the diners rarely glanced at the screen, preferring instead to discuss frequent power shortages with friends, but some listened carefully.
Cook Abbas Kathim stopped topping the latest order of a pepperoni pizza and walked forward to stick his ear next to the television speaker as he struggled to drown out the noise of the restaurant’s generator so he could listen.
“I think this meeting will be very useful. All we want is security for our country and I hope this will finally bring some of it,” he said as he returned to dice more onions.
“Bush is the man who runs Iraq. This time he seems serious to put an end to the violence and back Maliki,” Kathim said.
Saad Najim, a 33 year-old travel agent in the Shiite city of Najaf, said Bush’s support would empower the government. “We will see Iraqi forces quell terrorism as long as the Americans don’t release those who we arrest,” Najim said.
— Additional input from agencies
