Bush Sees "Defining Moment" In Iraq

President Says Renewed Violence In Oil-Rich Region Presents Historic Challenge

(CBS/AP)  President Bush said Friday that the flare up in violence in oil-rich southern Iraq and parts of Baghdad presents "a defining moment in the history of Iraq" as the government there seeks to rout out Shiite militias.

"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.

[sgtrds]

The body of a bro of all vets, Sgt. Keith Matthew Maupin, was identified in the Iraq war. He is a hero. I just checked his story and saw only one RIP. Come on bro''''s, he deserves better and so does his family. We stand together. It''''s not possible to do too much to honor our fallen comrades. Say your words for his family.

[timdgrim]

singinrich:
Right On Brother!! Hang ''em High!

[ioweign]

RE: from the story, "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." Why would a country that is capable of exporting huge amounts of oil need this kind of $$? Why aren''''t they starting to foot their own bill? Why not send teachers there and have the Iraqis pay for their knowledge? Why do we have Iraqis here in the good ol'''' US of A, that fled the terror of Sadam, that are so pleased that we Americans have freed their homeland for them and yet they won''''t go back and continue their fight for their own freedom at home (in Iraq)?

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...

[obama8years]

youtube.com/watch?v=LIe4d9Nmg9k

Obama is backing muslim extremist!

badbarack.org

obamatrut
h.org

[knyghtwolf]

Jerryomara, here I thought the best part ran down his mama''s throat or perhaps got fudge packed in her ampble bottom? Oops, my bad.

[tucano2]

WaPoo bills this piece as "War On Terror", as opposed to "War On ***", Drugs, Iraq, DUI, Pedophiles, ad nausem.
It''s so bad no one can keep track of all the "Wars" - and treats them all equally, with benign neglect.

[dylanxxv]

OOOOOOPS...He already did that 6 years ago didn''t he?

[dylanxxv]

The dufus as spoken...Y''all better mind your p''s and q''s or he''ll have us in a never ending war...

[skyk-2009]

The defining moment shows how deeply the militias infiltrated the local police force and army. This is an unfortunate but effective way to root them out of service.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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!

[macusweil]

GWB is right it is a defining moment.

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.

[ajmarine1]

1

[obama8years]

is this true?

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 ?

[hotpaulie]

King George will pay for his war crimes. He won''t make it to Paraguay.

[docpeter-2009]

RE: from the story, "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." Why would a country that is capable of exporting huge amounts of oil need this kind of $$? Why aren''t they starting to foot their own bill? Why not send teachers there and have the Iraqis pay for their knowledge? Why do we have Iraqis here in the good ol'' US of A, that fled the terror of Sadam, that are so pleased that we Americans have freed their homeland for them and yet they won''t go back and continue their fight for their own freedom at home (in Iraq)?

[johnshaft4]

PS...Like the Nazi war criminals that split to South America, Der Fuhrer Bush is fixing to beat feet to Paraguay.

[johnshaft4]

kynghtwolf- I totally agree with you. Bush is a psycho/sociopath.

[knyghtwolf]

In Chaco, Paraguay, there is no extradition to the United States. What amazes me is that most of our mental health facilaties are full to capacity with people that exhibit the exact same symptoms as other paranoid delusional and/or schizophrenics and receive fairly good treatment that helps them over come their issues of self-deluding behaviors, such as those that bush has been exhibiting the past eight years. He has gotten so used to being pivot boy in a circle jerk that he has lost sight of what being a responsible elected official really means.

[johnshaft4]

Bluestar- Do an internet search "Bush Paraguay".
There is a lot out there.

[bluestardad]

Why has traitor George W. Bush purchased 98,840 acres of land in Chaco, Paraguay to flee to? Why isn''''t the media all over this?

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!

[j0hnwi11iams]

Defining moment as in when Maliki decides when the US should be used to whack his competition.