Bush, Allawi Offer Reassurances

Standing beside interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi in the White House Rose Garden, President Bush spoke Thursday of "steady progress" toward creating an Iraq that is stable and self-governing. But he warned that insurgents could "plot and plan attacks elsewhere" if the United States pulled its soldiers out.

He said he expects violence in Iraq to escalate as the country moves toward elections scheduled for January. And, in a clear jab at Democratic opponent John Kerry, Mr. Bush said the United States must remain in Iraq to fight insurgents, who he said are part of the global terror threat.

"If we stop fighting the terrorists in Iraq, they would be free to plot and plan attacks elsewhere, in America and other free nations," he said.

Mr. Bush told Iraq's interim leader, "You have not faltered in a time of challenge, and neither will America."

In his remarks, Allawi said the past few days, marked by the beheadings of two American captives as well as insurgent violence that killed many Iraqis, had been difficult. Still, he painted an optimistic picture, insisting that elections will be held as scheduled.

No one wants international forces in Iraq longer than necessary, he said. But they are very much needed now.

"We in Iraq are grateful for each and every one of these courageous men and women," Allawi said.

Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. troops in the Middle East, said Wednesday it was possible that more U.S. troops would be needed to secure Iraq's elections, but that Iraqi and perhaps international troops may be able to do the job instead. "I think we will need more troops than we currently have," Abizaid said.

When asked about Abizaid's comment, Mr. Bush said Abizaid was in his office Thursday morning and did not mention the need for more troops. "But if he were to say that, I'd listen to him," Mr. Bush said.

"It's like I've said all along, that when our commanders say they need support they'll get support, because we're going to succeed in this mission,'' he said.

Allawi, however, discounted the need for more foreign troops on the ground in Iraq. "To have more troops, we don't need,'' he said, and suggested that Iraq instead should train its own security forces.

Earlier, Allawi offered a simple, "Thank you America," in an address to a joint meeting of Congress.

"We Iraqis know that Americans have made and continue to make enormous sacrifices to liberate Iraq, to assure Iraq's freedom," Allawi said. "I have come here to thank you and to promise you that your sacrifices are not in vain."

In an appearance that Mr. Bush's advisers hoped would ease American voters' doubts about the troubled campaign in Iraq, Allawi said that despite struggles and setbacks, "the values of liberty and democracy" are taking hold there.

"Today, we are better off, you are better off, the world is better off without Saddam Hussein," Allawi said. He added: "Your decision to go into Iraq was not an easy one, but it was the right one."

Allawi's speech, one of his first to a wide audience outside Iraq, was warmly received by U.S. lawmakers. He sought to tie the struggle in Iraq to the larger fight against global terrorism, echoing one of Mr. Bush's campaign themes.

Declaring himself "a realist," Allawi said he was trying to broaden the political process, drawing in as many Iraqi entities as possible, in an effort to weaken the insurgency.

Lawmakers praised Allawi's presentation. "It was filled with promise and hope and strength," said Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del. "He accomplished the goal of stressing the positives," while acknowledging that difficulties remains, said Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I.

"He said what he had to say," said Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, the senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. "It was optimistic... It was very positive." But, 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."

Speaking in Columbus, Ohio just after the Allawi speech, the president's Democratic rival, John 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."

Despite the contention by Allawi and Mr. Bush that things are getting better in Iraq, Kerry said, "They're not getting better and we need to change the course to protect our troops and to win."