Bush: I'll take the rap

2004-08-13 08:21

Los Angeles - President George Bush said on Thursday he was ready to take "the rap" for the Iraq war if the United States people decide to vote against him in the November election.

But he insisted in an interview with CNN television that he believed the decision to invade Iraq was the right one and that he would win the election battle against Democratic rival John Kerry in which Iraq is a key issue.

Bush said the United States has "an obligation to lead" in world security.

Interviewer Larry King told how after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961, President John F Kennedy "took the rap".

Bush interrupted to state: "I'm taking the rap, too, of course."

30 nations are involved in Iraq

With Kerry constantly attacking the president over the handling of Iraq, Bush said he would accept the public's verdict on November 2 and criticized Kerry for stating that he would substantially reduce the number of US troops in Iraq within six months of taking office.

"That says to the enemy: Wait for six months and one day. Or it says to the Iraqis, the Americans aren't serious. And it's very important for us not to be setting timetables," said Bush, who was campaigning in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Bush said that as long as he was in power the United States "will lead, and we will continue to work with others in a vast coalition." He rejected suggestions that the United States had been isolated in the Iraq campaign.

"My gosh, you know, Tony Blair doesn't think that," Bush said, referring to his close ally, the British prime minister.

"There's 30 nations now involved in Iraq. I think to say we've gone it alone really does denigrate the contributions of other countries."

Bush said none of the leaders had expressed regret to him about taking part in the US-led coalition in Iraq despite the mounting troubles there.

"This debate on coalitions is a very interesting debate. Sometimes I think they're basically saying that there is no such thing as a coalition unless the French are involved."

"But the truth of the matter is, the French are involved in Afghanistan, and the French have been involved in Haiti. The French government just didn't agree with the decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power. And, therefore, there was a difference of opinion on that issue."

Free countries are peaceful

"But I will argue that Saddam Hussein out of power has made the world a better place and a safer place."

Bush also insisted that the "war on terror" he declared after the September 11 2001 attacks can be won by remaining firm and "spreading freedom."

"In the short-term, we will secure our country by never relenting in our desire to bring people to justice, he said. It's best that we bring them to justice overseas so they don't hit us here at home."

"In the long run free countries will end up listening to the hopes and desires of their people. Free countries will be peaceful countries."

- AFP