Bush upbeat on Iraq

US president tells troops in Kuwait that Iraq withdrawal plans are on track.

US president Bush in Kuwait with troops
Bush addressed troops at US Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, as part of his tour of the region [AFP]

‘On track’

 

“My attitude is if he didn’t want to continue the drawdown, that’s fine with me,” Bush said.

 

“The only thing I can tell you is we’re on track for what we’ve said was going to happen,” he said, referring to plans to withdraw some 30,000 troops from Iraq by July.

 

Bush is in Kuwait on the first leg of a visit to the Gulf. He will also be visiting Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

 

Your Views

“What has to happen in order for there to be a peaceful settlement of a long-standing dispute is … outlines of a state clearly defined.”

George Bush, US President

Send us your views.

During the trip he hopes to persuade the Arab nations to assist with the Israel-Palestine peace process and help contain Iran.

 

General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Baghdad, met Bush on Saturday at Camp Arifjan.

 

About 9,000 US troops are based at Camp Arifjan, one of the largest US military bases in the region.
 

Bush defended his decision a year ago to order a buildup of troops to Iraq.

 

“The new way forward I announced a year ago changed our approach in fundamental ways,” he said. “Iraq is now a different place from one year ago.”

 

“Levels of violence are significantly reduced. Hope is returning to Baghdad,” he said, adding that the al-Qaeda network in Iraq had been “dealt heavy blows”.

 
Gulf visit
 
He arrived in Kuwait on Friday and had dinner with, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Kuwait’s ruler, who thanked Bush for his efforts in progressing key Middle East issues.

In Focus

undefined
– Bush’s nudge and wink diplomacy
Inside the White House media bubble
– Bush’s damage control
– Gaza: A simple truth

 
Media in Kuwait said officials would tell Bush of their concerns that a US strike on nearby Iran would destabilise the Gulf, which is crucial to world oil supplies.
 
Such as message is likely to be repeated to Bush by his other hosts on the Gulf state tour.
 
Kuwait has said it will not allow the US to use its territory for any strike against Iran.
 
Bush said that Iran posed “a threat to world peace” and should not be allowed to develop expertise to produce nuclear weapons, in Israel on Wednesday.
 
Iran has denied wanting to build nuclear weapons.
 
Some commentators have said that Washington could take military action against Iran to prevent progression with its nuclear programme.
 
Bush will fly to Bahrain later on Saturday.
 
A visit by Bush to Iraq during his current tour has not been ruled out.
 
Bush has been to Iraq three times since he ordered the invasion of the country in March 2003, most recently in September last year.
Source: News Agencies