San Diego Union Tribune November 19, 2005 Bush supports letting Iran enrich uranium under Russia's watch By George E. Condon Jr. COPLEY NEWS SERVICE BUSAN, South Korea – President Bush yesterday supported Russian President Vladimir Putin's idea to press Iran to accept a compromise allowing it to enrich uranium, but only in Russia under strict controls. Russia has proposed that Iran build its nuclear enrichment plant in Russia, with Iran running it but Russia overseeing its fuel. Advertisement Iran has rejected this, but National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said Bush sees it as "an interesting idea" that should be pursued by Putin and Iran. Bush met with Putin yesterday. "We've talked to the Russians about this, and we have supported their proposal," Hadley said. A senior Russian delegation that went to Tehran last week was unable to persuade the Iranians to consider giving up enriching uranium on their own soil, U.S. officials said. Bush, whose Asia agenda has been overshadowed by Iraq, today again rejected calls for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and pledged to stay "until we have achieved the victory our brave troops have fought and bled for." In remarks prepared for delivery to U.S. troops based at Osan Air Base, the president quoted Maj. Gen. William Webster as saying it would be "a recipe for disaster" to set a deadline for the withdrawal of troops. Bush stopped at the base on his way to China. Also yesterday, the president was embarrassed by a preliminary announcement by the South Korean defense ministry that this country's military contingent in Iraq – the coalition's third-largest behind the United States and Britain – would be slashed by one-third, leaving 2,000 troops there. The White House was taken by surprise by the report, which came less than 24 hours after Bush had lavished praise on South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun for his commitment to have those troops in Iraq. Hadley tried to put the announcement in the best light, citing a statement from the South Korean foreign minister that the country still supports the coalition's mission in Iraq. The president did not cite South Korea's presence in Iraq in his remarks in Osan, instead focusing on their vigilance against North Korea. Osan is one of the few U.S. military outposts in the world still poised to take on communist forces, and Bush told the forces posted here that their sacrifice, though less publicized than that of forces in Iraq, is appreciated. Before the Osan visit, the president concluded his summit with regional leaders at the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. For today's final session of the APEC summit, leaders agreed to stage a "desk-top simulation exercise in early 2006 to test regional responses and communication networks" in the event of a bird flu pandemic. Bush also participated in talks on better coordinating anti-terrorism and nonproliferation efforts in the region. Bush also met with Mexican President Vicente Fox, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo in an effort to breathe fresh life into the stalled Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. The New York Times News Service contributed to this report. »Next Story»