Bush and Blair: We're charting new directions in Iraq
US President George Bush, standing beside British Prime Minister Tony Blair, today asserted that success in Iraq depends on victory over extremists across the “broader Middle East”.
“It’s a tough time and it’s a difficult moment for America and Great Britain and the task before us is daunting,” Bush said a day after a bipartisan commission said his war policies have failed and called for a change in strategy.
Blair, who has stood shoulder to shoulder with Bush since the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, said he welcomed the conclusions of the Iraq Study Group despite its criticism of past policies.
It “offers a strong way forward”, Blair said.
“I think it is important now we concentrate on the elements that are necessary to make sure that we succeed, because the consequences of failure are severe.”
Bush appeared to endorse the panel’s conclusion that any resolution of the Iraq conflict is tied to reducing tensions between Israel and the Palestinians and across the broader Middle East, a position Blair has long held.
But in Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he disagreed with the advisory group’s linkage. He told a news conference that conditions were not ripe to reopen long-dormant talks with Syria.
