Bush: terrorists may plan more attacks

By Terence Hunt

Sep 23, 2004 | Denying he has painted too rosy a picture about Iraq, President Bush said Thursday he would consider sending more troops if asked, but Iraq's interim leader firmly said they weren't needed. With violence spreading, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld suggested parts of Iraq might have to be excluded from elections in January.

Bush and Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, standing in the Rose Garden under a bright sun, agreed that Iraq is making steady progress despite bombings, beheadings and violence that has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 Americans.

"On television sets around the world we see acts of violence yet in most of Iraq, children are about to go back to school, parents are going back to work and new businesses are being opened," Bush said. Allawi said 14 or 15 of Iraq's 18 provinces "are completely safe."

Rumsfeld, at a Senate committee, was asked how elections could be held if Fallujah and other restive cities remained in revolt in when U.N.-supervised elections are to be held nationwide.

"So be it," Rumsfeld said. He said "it could be" that violence in Iraq will be worse by January. The result, he said, would be "an election that's not quite perfect." But he said that some balloting would be better than none at all.

The Bush-Allawi joint news conference, in the midst of the presidential campaign, echoed Bush's campaign speeches and the themes of his attacks against Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Six weeks before the election, Allawi strongly supported Bush's policy. On his first official visit to Washington, the prime minister told a joint meeting of Congress that "the values of liberty and democracy" are taking hold in Iraq despite setbacks. He offered a simple, "Thank you, America" for driving Saddam Hussein from power.

Kerry contends Bush has been dishonest about the war's rationale and cost and lacks an effective strategy to end the crisis. While Kerry urges a start of troop withdrawals within six months and complete pullout in four years, Bush and Allawi said the United States must stand and fight.

"If we stop fighting the terrorists in Iraq, they would be free to plot and plan attacks elsewhere, in America and other free nations," the president said, linking Iraq with the more politically popular war on terror. "To retreat now would betray our mission, our word and our friends. ... America will keep its commitments."

Without mentioning Kerry by name, Bush and Allawi suggested his criticism was undercutting Iraq and the United States. "You can embolden an enemy by sending mixed messages," Bush said.

Allawi said: "When political leaders sound the sirens of defeatism in the face of terrorism, it only encourages more violence."

Kerry said that contrary to assertions by Bush and Allawi, things are not improving in Iraq "and we need to change the course to protect our troops and to win."

Speaking in Columbus, Ohio, Kerry said, "The prime minister and the president are here, obviously, to put their best face on the policy. But the fact is that the CIA estimates, the reporting, the ground operations and the troops all tell a different story."

In a rare admission of error, Bush said he should not have said -- as he did Tuesday -- that the CIA was just guessing in a report this summer that gave a gloomy intelligence assessment that raised the prospect of Iraq tumbling into civil war. "I used an unfortunate word, 'guess,"' Bush said. "I should have used 'estimate.'

"But what's important for the American people to hear is reality," Bush said, turning toward Allawi. "And the reality's right here in the form of the prime minister."

Allawi said Iraq was "a country emerging finally from dark ages of tyranny, aggression and corruption." Iraq will hold elections on time in January, Allawi said, cautioning that "they may not be perfect" or be "the best elections that Iraq will ever hold."

Before meeting with Allawi, Bush met in the Oval Office with Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. troops in the Middle East. Abizaid said Wednesday that more troops will be needed to secure Iraq's elections, but that he expected Iraqi or international troops could do the job. "I don't foresee a need for more American troops, but we can't discount it," Abizaid said.

Asked about Abizaid's comment, Bush said the general did not mention to him the need for more troops. "But if he were to say that, I'd listen to him," Bush said.

But Allawi said bluntly: "To have more troops, we don't need." He said Iraq needs to train more of its own troops because they ultimately will have to defend their country. Iraq now has 100,000 people in the police, national guard and army forces, Allawi said.

While offering optimistic assessments, Bush and Allawi said Iraq faces major challenges.

"I believe terrorist violence may well escalate as the January elections draw near," Bush said, but added that if elections go forward, "democracy in Iraq will put down permanent roots and terrorists will suffer a dramatic defeat."

Allawi said Iraq is battling international terrorists. "I know it is difficult but the coalition must stand firm," he said.

His address to Congress was warmly received.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., who has criticized Bush on Iraq, said Allawi's speech was good but predictable. "Certainly the prime minister was not going to go before the Congress of the United States or the people of this country and interject any element of doubt or questioning about his government's purpose or focus or credibility or ability," Hagel said.

"It was optimistic.... It was very positive," said Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. However, Skelton added, "I would feel better if the Iraqi people would express their gratitude and stop harboring those insurgents. That's the way to express gratitude to America."

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