Kuwait: Bush hails progress in Iraq

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (Agencies): US President George W. Bush said on Saturday his goal of reducing troop numbers in Iraq by July was on track but called on Syria and Iran to stop fuelling violence in the war-torn country. He spoke after meeting his top political and military commanders in Iraq at a US base in Kuwait, where he also addressed hundreds of the American troops stationed in the oil-rich state. After talks with General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq, and US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker, Bush told reporters Washington was on track to reduce the number of brigades to 15 from the current 20. “The levels of violence are significantly reduced. Hope is returning to Baghdad and hope is returning to the towns and the villages throughout Iraq,” he said.

“One Army brigade and one Marine Expeditionary Unit have already come home, and they will not be replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades and two Marine battalions will follow suit.” But he also singled out the role in Iraq of Syria and Iran. Syria “needs to further reduce the flow of terrorists, especially suicide bombers. Iran must stop supporting the militia special groups that attack Iraqi and coalition forces, and kidnap and kill Iraqi officials,” he added. “Iran’s role in fomenting violence has been exposed — Iranian agents are in our custody, and we are learning more about how Iran has supported extremist groups with training and lethal aid.” Bush’s comments came only a day after Bush conceded that US forces could stay for a decade in Iraq, which is still gripped by bombings almost five years after the US-led invasion despite last year’s troop “surge.” Asked by NBC television whether the US military presence might last 10 years, Bush said: “It could easily be that, absolutely.”

A surprise visit to Iraq has not been ruled out during Bush’s tour of the region, which is aimed at promoting Middle East peace and seeking support for his efforts to contain what he calls the Iranian “threat.” Bush spoke to a crowd of about 1,500 US troops at Camp Arifjan, one of Washington’s largest military bases in the region and one of several in Kuwait, which served as a springboard for the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. “You are doing the hard work necessary to protect the United States of America because you have defeated an enemy overseas so we don’t have to meet them at home,” Bush said. He described the fight against terrorism as an “ideological struggle,” adding: “History will show that the best way to defeat the ideology of hate is with an ideology of hope.” Petraeus in a briefing to reporters after Bush’s statement to the troops, said Washington estimated the flow of fighters into Iraq through Syria “may be down by about a half or so.” But there were “mixed signals” from Tehran.

In past months, US troops have noted “a reduction in certain types of attacks associated with what we call the signature weapons that are provided by Iran,” said the general. But “in this year, EFPs has gone up actually, over the last 10 days, by a factor of two or three,” he said, referring to sophisticated roadside bombs. “We are trying to determine why that might be.” Bush travelled on to Bahrain on a four-nation Gulf trip aimed in party to rally the support of Sunni Arab allies in his campaign to isolate Shiite Iran and win backing for his goal of a Middle East peace deal by the time he leaves office in January 2009. Bush on Saturday became the first US president to visit the tiny Gulf kingdom which serves as home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. In Israel on Wednesday, Bush warned that Iran posed “a threat to world peace” and should not be allowed to develop the know-how to build a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear arms.

Wary
But Gulf states are wary about any military action against their neighbour, and Kuwaiti officials have said the emirate will not allow the United States to use its territory as a launchpad for any strike on Iran. The leading pro-government Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadh on Saturday also ruled out any attempt to use the kingdom as a springboard for war. “We refuse to be used to launch wars or tensions with Iran,” it wrote two days Bush is due in Saudi Arabia. Tensions between Tehran and Washington escalated on the eve of Bush’s tour over a naval confrontation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz last Sunday in which the Pentagon said US warships were threatened by Iranian speedboats. The Pentagon has since said that Iranian speedboats approached US naval vessels in two other incidents in December, including one in which a US warship fired warning shots.

Drawdown
Facing another decision about US troop numbers in Iraq by spring, US President George W. Bush said Saturday it is “fine with me” if generals recommend no more cuts than those planned to drop the force level to about 130,000. Bush also commended Iraq’s parliament for passing legislation reinstating thousands of former supporters of Saddam Hussein’s now-dissolved Baath party to government jobs. “It’s an important step toward reconciliation,” Bush said, after more than a year of prodding by the United States for action on the legislation. “It’s an important sign that the leaders of that country understand that they must work together to meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people.” Bush made the remarks during a meeting with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.

“I know you’ve been concerned about Iraq and the politics of Iraq,” Bush told the king. The president said he was pleased to inform the monarch about the passage of the law. “I come with an upbeat message, a hopeful message — a message that will prevail here in the Middle East,” said Bush, the first sitting US president to visit Bahrain, an oil-rich nation in the Persian Gulf. Bush invited the king to visit him in Washington. Bush, traveling for the next few days among Sunni Arab-ruled states jittery about the rising influence and ambitions of Shiite-majority Iran, again put Tehran on notice during remarks earlier Saturday in Kuwait. Bush was treated to trumpet and cannon salutes as he walked down a long, red carpet at a palace near the capital city, Manama. The king presented Bush with a medal described as Bahrain’s highest award.

Bush congratulated Bahrain for holding free elections and noted the election two years ago of a female member of parliament. “Our two nations share a common vision for the future of the Middle East,” Bush said in brief remarks at the welcome ceremony. Bush then watched dancers in flowing robes and headdress perform with swords and rifles. The president and King Hamad were each presented with swords, which they raised over their heads as the dancers had done. Bush’s comments in Bahrain echoed his praise for similar democratic gains in Kuwait, where women were given the vote in 2005. Although he talked democracy and development with a group of Kuwaiti women, most of his public business in the emirate concerned the military challenge next door in Iraq.

Comment: Notice the final two paragraphs-this is Arabic media reporting in English at its best. I have read many Arab news English sites and not one of them is impressed with Mr. Bush's visit to their countries or the region. It is actually remarkable how "under played and under reporting" the Arab media, at least in English, is giving this "historic" visit-one could interpret this as ...