Update on Iraq

President Jalal Talabani was elected as President of the Republic of Iraq under the new Constitution, and thus became the first President of the permanent Government established by the new constitutional order.


From Google News:

TONY EASTLEY: US President George W. Bush doesn't like what he sees in Iraq but the violence, mayhem and lack of security doesn't convince him that a phased withdrawal of American troops is in the best interests of anyone.Mr Bush has been discussing what to do about the war with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The hot topic of conversation has been the recommendations of the bi-partisan Iraq Study Group, particularly the proposal that most US troops leave by early 2008.Mr Blair has also announced he's heading to the Middle East to try, yet again, to force a Middle-East peace deal.From Washington, Michael Rowland reports.ANNOUNCER: Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.MICHAEL ROWLAND: Unlike their previous joint appearances there was a somewhat sombre tone to today's media conference. Both leaders have seen their political credibility severely damaged by the war and are struggling to preserve legacies that threaten to be overshadowed by the conflict.The Iraq study group has described the situation in Iraq as grave and deteriorating.GEORGE BUSH: It's bad in Iraq, I understand how tough it is there. I talk to the families who die.TONY BLAIR: Yes, it is immensely tough at the moment, and very challenging and everybody knows that.MICHAEL ROWLAND: For those hoping for any indications of how President Bush would respond to the Baker Group's report, it was a disappointing sixty minutes. Mr Bush did put into words the question that's now being asked with much greater urgency.GEORGE BUSH: Do we have a plan to achieve our objectives? Are we willing to change as the enemy has changed?MICHAEL ROWLAND: On the issue of pulling American troops out of Iraq, Mr Bush gave what's been his standard answer.GEORGE BUSH: We want our combat troops out as quick as possible, we want the Iraqis taking the fight. But it's very important to be, as we design programs, to be flexible and realistic. And as the report said, I haven't got the exact words, but it was along the lines, you know, depending upon conditions, I believe that was what the qualifier was. And I thought that made a lot of sense.MICHAEL ROWLAND: Mr Bush says he's waiting to receive similar Iraq studies from the US military and from within the White House before announcing any policy changes, and he stressed the Baker Report was just one source of advice.Mr Blair appeared to give the recommendations of the bi-partisan panel much greater weight.TONY BLAIR: It offers a strong way forward. I think it is important now we concentrate on the elements that are necessary to make sure that we succeed. MICHAEL ROWLAND: One recommendation embraced by both leaders was the Baker Group's conclusion that any solution to Iraq had to be complemented by renewed efforts to forge a wider Middle East peace, particularly between Israelis and Palestinians.The British Prime Minister is planning to visit the region to attempt just that.TONY BLAIR: There is no way that you ever succeed in these things, unless you just carry on trying. And that's what we will do, and one of the things I learned in all the long years that you've followed me in relation to Northern Ireland, that you just, you don't accept that you ever give up. You just carry on doing it.MICHAEL ROWLAND: This has been the approach of the US, Britain, and for that matter Australia, when dealing with the escalating violence in Iraq. But it's a strategy that even the architects of the war now agree needs to be changed.In Washington this is Michael Rowland reporting for AM.


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