WASHINGTON – In a sobering assessment of the Iraq war, President Bush acknowledged Monday that Americans’ resolve has been shaken by grisly scenes of death and destruction and he pointedly criticized the performance of U.S.-trained Iraqi troops.
For 53 minutes, Bush fielded questions on international and domestic affairs, speaking a day after the deadliest attacks in Iraq since July. At least 67 were killed.
“The American people are taking a look at Iraq and wondering whether the Iraqis are going to be able to fight off these bombers and killers, and our objective is to give them the tools and the training necessary to do so,” the president said.
“Now I would call the results mixed in terms of standing up Iraqi units who are willing to fight,” Bush said. “There have been some cases where, when the heat got on, they left the battlefield. That’s unacceptable. Iraq will never secure itself if they have troops that, when the heat gets on, they leave the battlefield.”
What is needed, the president said, is a better military command structure.
He said he understands why Americans have doubts about Iraq’s ability. “They’re looking on your TV screen and seeing indiscriminate bombings, where thousands of innocent – or hundreds of innocent Iraqis are getting killed.” But Bush said those pictures do not reflect that 15 of Iraq’s 18 provinces are relatively stable and that small businesses are starting up.
“But no question about it. The bombers are having an effect … They’re trying to shake the will of the Iraqi people and, frankly, trying to shake the will of the American people.”
He renewed his warning to Syria and Iran against “meddling” in Iraq’s political process. “I meant it. And hopefully those governments heard what I said,” Bush said, without threatening any consequences.
Bush also offered strong support for one of the architects of his Iraq policy, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, calling him “a caring fellow” who has done “a really fine job.”
On other topics, the president refused to say whether his strategy for overhauling Social Security would entail cutting benefits, raising the retirement age or limiting benefits for wealthier workers. “Don’t bother to ask me,” Bush said, adding that he would not tip his hand until he starts negotiating with Congress next year.
Bush reiterated his pledge to seek immigration law changes that offer legal status to an estimated 10 million workers who are in the country illegally.
“We want our Border Patrol agents chasing crooks and thieves and drug runners and terrorists, not good-hearted people who are coming here to work,” Bush said. “And therefore, it makes sense to allow the good-hearted people who are coming here to do jobs that Americans won’t do a legal way to do so.”
Bush declined to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin despite concerns that he has strengthened authoritarian controls and backtracked on post-Soviet democratic reforms. Bush said he has a good personal relationship with Putin and “I intend to keep it that way.” The United States and Russia have disagreements, the president added, but he said the relationship is good.
Bush also addressed criticism that during his first term he was not engaged enough to peaceably settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“Peace would never happen so long as the interlocutor in the peace process was not really dedicated to peace,” Bush said of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died last month. With the Palestinians preparing for elections next month, Bush said, “We’ve got a good chance” for progress.
“I know the world is wondering whether or not this is just empty rhetoric,” he said. “The answer is, now is the time to move the process forward.”
Associated Press
President Bush talks about his second-term agenda Monday during a year-end press conference in Washington, D.C.
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