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Bush sees peace in Mid East
03/02/2005 07:50 - (SA)
Washington - President George W Bush said on Wednesday that creation of a Palestinian state living at peace with Israel was "within reach," and that elections in Iraq had opened "a new phase" in United States efforts there.
In his annual State of the Union speech, Bush said that US troops will increasingly play "a supporting role" to fledgling Iraqi security forces, but rejected setting a specific timetable for a full American withdrawal.
"In the end, Iraqis must be able to defend their own country -- and we will help that proud, new nation secure its liberty," the president said 22 months after he ordered the invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.
But "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 told a joint session of the US Congress and a televised audience of millions.
Looking to his second term and his place in history, Bush recommitted himself to the Middle East peace process and asked lawmakers for $350m to help build Palestinian political, economic and security reforms.
Working with friends
"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," said the US president.
Bush noted that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was leaving on Thursday on a trip that will take her to Israel and the West Bank for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.
Bush's remarks fleshed out his inauguration promise two weeks ago to spread democracy in the Middle East as the antidote to extremism that spawned terrorists like those who carried out the September 11 2001 attacks.
"To promote peace and stability in the broader Middle East, the United States will work with our friends in the region to fight the common threat of terror, while we encourage a higher standard of freedom," he said.
The president made an unusual appeal to US allies Egypt and Saudi Arabia to pursue political reforms while warning Damascus and Tehran to stop backing terrorism - and made a direct appeal to the Iranian people.
"To the Iranian people, I say tonight: As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you," said Bush, who said he was working with Britain, France and Germany to end the standoff over Iran's nuclear programs.
"The government of Saudi Arabia can demonstrate its leadership in the region by expanding the role of its people in determining their future. And the great and proud nation of Egypt, which showed the way toward peace in the Middle East, can now show the way toward democracy in the Middle East," he said.
Bush had only the briefest of comments on the nuclear dispute with North Korea, saying Washington was "working closely with governments in Asia to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions."
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