WASHINGTON, March 28, 2008
Bush Sees "Defining Moment" In Iraq
President Says Renewed Violence In Oil-Rich Region Presents Historic Challenge
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President Bush speaks at a White House news conference alongside Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday, March 28, 2008. (CBS)
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Interactive Iraq: 5 Years At War Five years after the U.S.-led invasion, the war wears on.
"It's going to take awhile, but it's a necessary part of the development of a free society," Mr. Bush said at a White House news conference with visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. At the same time, the president said the situation in Iraq remains "dangerous and fragile."
His comments followed U.S. airstrikes in both the southern city of Basra and in a Shiite militia stronghold in Baghdad. The renewed violence came as tensions rose among followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr angry over a crackdown that has threatened to unravel a militia cease-fire.
"Basra has been a place where criminality has thrived," Mr. Bush said. "They are fighting some pretty tough characters... and yes, there's going to be violence, and that's sad."
He said the resurgent violence would not alter his determination to continue his administration's mission there.
"Any government that presumes to represent the majority of people must confront criminal elements or people who think they can live outside the law. That's what's taking place in Basra and other parts of Iraq," Mr. Bush said. "I would say this is a defining moment in the history of Iraq."
"There have been other defining moments up to now, but this is a defining moment, as well," Mr. Bush said. He said the decision to move troops into Basra was testimony to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's leadership capabilities.
"This is a good test for them," the president said.
"I'm confident we can succeed unless we lose our nerve," he added. "It's going to take a while for them to deal with these elements."
Mr. Bush also suggested that his Iraq policy was working because "troops are coming out."
The new Australian prime minister campaigned on a theme of withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq. Mr. Bush brought up Rudd's Iraq stance himself in his opening remarks.
Asking and answering his own question, Mr. Bush said he expected a journalist to ask him, "Aren't you mad at the prime minister for fulfilling his campaign pledge? The answer is no."
"I always like to be in the presence of somebody who does what he says he's going to do ... Here's a guy who meant it ... He consulted closely with his friends. His military commanders consulted closely with our military commanders," Mr. Bush said.
The president noted, however, that Australia continues to have troops in Afghanistan and is helping to train Iraqi farmers in dry-land farming.
For his part, Rudd said, "We're in Afghanistan for the long haul."
The two leaders were asked about civil unrest in Tibet and China's crackdown there and both urged China's leaders to meet with representatives of the Dali Lama to discuss the violence.
"It is absolutely clear that there are human rights abuses in Tibet," Rudd said. "It's clear-cut; we need to be upfront and absolutely straight about what's going on."
Mr. Bush said he told Chinese President Hu Jintao this week that "it's in his country's interest" that top Chinese leaders meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.
"We urge restraint," Mr. Bush said.
On relations with Australia, said he expects them to "strengthen and endure" under Rudd.
"I don't see differences when it comes to foreign policy," Mr. Bush said. Even so, both worked to smooth over Australia's decision on Iraq.
Mr. Bush called Rudd a "straightforward fellow" and Rudd called the president "George" and joked with Mr. Bush about being from Queensland in northeast Australia, which has similar terrain as Texas.
Rudd said that after he asked Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki how Australia could help in nonmilitary ways, his country decided to send $165 million to Iraq, the bulk of which will go to help train Iraqis on dry-land farming.
©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The secrets of tennis legend 
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See all 140 CommentsRight On Brother!! Hang ''em High!
Posted by docpeter at 09:21 AM : Mar 29, 2008
yet they won''t go back and continue their fight for their own freedom at home (in Iraq)?
You think they are as stupid as George Bush...
Obama is backing muslim extremist!
badbarack.org
obamatrut
h.org
It''s so bad no one can keep track of all the "Wars" - and treats them all equally, with benign neglect.
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Posted by sevenveils at 04:26 AM : Mar 29, 2008
+ report abuse
ROFLMAO Never been there have you? Ask a Vietnam Vet about that garbage!
After all the torture, lives lost, soldiers wounded and tax payer''s money wasted he is set to become the BIGGEST loser.
Bush''s failure as president and commander in chief is the costliest disaster in American history.
OBAMA TIES TO HAMAS TERROR
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency today reports that the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr., long-time pastor of Barak Obama, published an op-ed piece signed by a Hamas leader. The item appeared in the July 22, 2007 edition of his Trinity United Church newspaper on the "Pastors Page." The op-ed piece justifies attacks on Israeli civilians, and carries a supporting introduction by Wright.
Barak Obama issued a statement strongly condemning these views of his pastor. "I certainly wasn%u2019t in church when that outrageously wrong [Hamas] piece was re-printed in the bulletin,%u201D Obama added.
Obama is a long-time member of Trinity United, and his financial contributions to his church are reported to be substantial ("All told, the [Obama] couple gave $27,500 to [Trinity United] in 2005 and 2006," according to the New York Times of March 26). His moral support to the church has been unwavering. As more and more and more details of the extremist political positions of the church are revealed, Obama''s response has been to distance himself from these, but also to repeat, over and over, that he didn''t know, that he wasn''t there.
I find it very difficult to believe that an intelligent, energetic, and very political man like Obama is perpetually ignorant about what goes on in the church to which he devotes so many of his resources. If he does get to the White House, will he be in similar ignorance about the goings on of his administration ?
There is a lot out there.
Posted by JohnShaft4 at 11:53 PM : Mar 28, 2008
Johnshaft4...
Where did you find this? I would like to read about it...
WAR CRIMES TRIALS MUST START NOW!
AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!
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