San Diego Union Tribune

March 17, 2005

Bush: Coalition undeterred by Italy's exit plans

By Finlay Lewis
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON – President Bush declared yesterday that the resolve of the allied coalition in Iraq remains strong, despite the Italian government's decision 24 hours earlier to begin a troop withdrawal six months from now.

The president told a White House news conference that the convening yesterday of Iraq's elected parliament represented a "hopeful moment" in that nation's bloody transition to democracy and that the U.S.-led coalition was not crumbling.

Maintaining his long-standing refusal to set a deadline for withdrawal of U.S. troops, Bush told the nation, "Our troops will come home when Iraq is capable of defending herself."

He insisted that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi shares that objective despite Berlusconi's announcement that some or all of Italy's 3,000 troops now in Iraq would begin heading home in September.

Relating a conversation with Berlusconi, one of his staunchest European allies on Iraq, Bush said, "He wanted me to know that there was no change in his policy; that in fact any withdrawals would be done in consultation with allies and would be done depending upon the ability of Iraqis to defend themselves."

Italy ranks as the fourth-largest contributor of manpower to the post-invasion stabilization effort in Iraq. A number of other nations have begun to withdraw some of their troops or have announced plans to do so.

Even so, Bush said, "I think the coalition has been buoyed by the courage of the Iraqi people. I think they've been pleased and heartened by the fact that the Iraqis went to the polls and voted and are now putting together a government, and they see progress is being made. I share that sense of enthusiasm about what's taking place in Iraq."

Asked whether the Iraqi elections and positive developments in the Middle East vindicate his ambitious policy of bringing democracy to the region, Bush said he does not have time to worry about his historical legacy.

"It turns out – this job – you got a lot on your plate on a regular basis," Bush said. "You don't have much time to sit around and, you know, kind of wander lonely in the Oval Office, kind of asking different portraits, 'How do you think my standing will be?' I got a lot to do."

Bush defended the practice of "rendition," in which the United States puts suspected terrorists into the custody of nations that have been criticized for the use of torture. The president said the United States must protect against attack, "and one way to do so is to arrest people and send them back to their country of origin with the promise that they won't be tortured."

"That's the promise we receive," Bush said. "This country does not believe in torture. We do believe in protecting ourselves."

The president said he is counting on Karen Hughes, a longtime confidante named this week as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, to help get the Muslim world to understand "why we do things we do."

"People need to understand we're a compassionate nation, that we care deeply about suffering, regardless of where people live," Bush said, noting the nation has had an image "of wanting to fight Muslims."

Looking ahead to a St. Patrick's Day ceremony today at the White House, Bush said his planned meeting with the sisters and girlfriend of a Belfast man killed in a bar fight is intended to advance the cause of peace in Northern Ireland.

Bush described the women, who have mounted a highly visible campaign against elements of the Irish Republican Army after the slaying of Robert McCartney, as "these very brave souls." Members of the IRA have been implicated in the January slaying.

Bush will also meet with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern but has rescinded the traditional invitations to the leaders of Northern Ireland's political parties to underscore his opposition to the violence there.

It was the fifth news conference Bush has held since winning re-election, a dramatic change from his first term, when he rarely met with the White House press corps.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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