Bush stresses Iraq, Mideast policy in State of Union address

US President George W. Bush stressed the progress made in Iraq and the Middle East peace process and vowed to achieve success on the foreign policy front of his annual State of the Union address on Wednesday night.

Bush hailed Sunday's election in Iraq and said the election has opened "a new phase" in the country as he vowed to continue to help train Iraqi security forces.

"The new political situation in Iraq opens a new phase of our work in that country. We will increasingly focus our efforts on helping prepare more capable Iraqi security forces -- forces with skilled officers, and an effective command structure," Bush said.

Bush voiced confidence that the United States will achieve victory in Iraq "because the Iraqi people value their own liberty."

As expected, Bush refused to set a timetable for the withdrawal of the roughly 150,000 US troops out of Iraq.

"We will not set an artificial timetable for leaving Iraq because that would embolden the terrorists and make them believe they can wait us out," Bush said.

As to the stalled Middle East peace process, Bush signaled optimism and said the establishment of a Palestinian state was "within reach."

"The goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace is within reach -- and America will help them achieve that goal," he said.

To achieve that goal, Bush said he would ask the Congress to approve an aid package of 350 million dollars for the Palestinians.

"I will ask Congress for 350 million dollars to support Palestinian political, economic and security reforms," he said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

"She (Rice) will discuss with them how we and our friends can help the Palestinian people end terror and build the institutions of a peaceful, independent, democratic state," Bush said.

In sharp contrast, Bush demanded that Iran dismantle its nuclear program. "We are working with European allies to make clear to the Iranian regime that it must give up its uranium enrichment program and any plutonium reprocessing," Bush said.

The Bush administration has accused Iran of developing a nuclear weapon program and Iran says its nuclear program is for civil purposes only.

Besides Iran, Bush also warned Syria "to end all support for terror and open the door to freedom."

In order to win the war on terror, Bush vowed to stay on the offensive and continue to build the anti-terror international coalition.

"Our country is still the target of terrorists who want to kill many and intimidate us all, and we will stay on the offensive against them until the fight is won," Bush said, adding that pursuing US enemies "is a vital commitment of the war on terror."

Meanwhile, Bush said that in the next four years his administration "will continue to build the coalition that will defeat the dangers of our time."

Bush said that the United States is cooperating with 60 governments in the Proliferation Security Initiative and stop the transit of dangerous materials.

Bush also mentioned Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and nine other countries that "have captured or detained al-Qaida terrorists" blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Nonetheless, Bush insisted that the United States "has no right, no desire and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else."

"Our aim is to build and preserve a community of free and independent nations, with governments that answer to their citizens and reflect their won cultures," Bush said.

The Democrats have criticized the Bush administration for failing to develop a clear exit strategy from Iraq and not doing enough to stop the violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

During the prime-time speech to the joint session of the Congress, Bush also aggressively pushed top domestic issues including Social Security, health care and the huge budget deficit.

Source: Xinhua