10.19.2004
Bush Easy On Iraq
For someone who has so far praised Iraq's movement toward a "free and democratic" society, President Bush sure does change his mind easily. Seems now he's willing to let Iraq exist as an Islamic state, if this was the result of the much heralded "free elections. Thanks to the BBC for the piece:
Mr Bush told the Associated Press in an interview that he would accept such a result if elections were open and fair.
"I will be disappointed. But democracy is democracy," he said during an interview given on Air Force One.
"If that's what the people choose, that's what the people choose," he said. Free elections are expected in the country next January.
Speaking as he travelled between campaign stops, Mr Bush said the US would leave Iraq "once we've helped them to get on the path of stability and democracy".
He added: "It's very difficult for me to predict what forces will exist although I will tell you that Iraq's leadership has made it quite clear that they can manage their own affairs at the appropriate time."
Correspondents say Mr Bush's comments appear to clash with earlier remarks from his administration which rejected calls soon after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime for the creation of an Islamic state similar to that of its neighbour, Iran.
As they note, this does clash with their previous statements on how they expected Iraq to turn out. Furthermore, I highly doubt it would be very helpful in the fight on terror to have another country similar to Iran.
Mr Bush told the Associated Press in an interview that he would accept such a result if elections were open and fair.
"I will be disappointed. But democracy is democracy," he said during an interview given on Air Force One.
"If that's what the people choose, that's what the people choose," he said. Free elections are expected in the country next January.
Speaking as he travelled between campaign stops, Mr Bush said the US would leave Iraq "once we've helped them to get on the path of stability and democracy".
He added: "It's very difficult for me to predict what forces will exist although I will tell you that Iraq's leadership has made it quite clear that they can manage their own affairs at the appropriate time."
Correspondents say Mr Bush's comments appear to clash with earlier remarks from his administration which rejected calls soon after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime for the creation of an Islamic state similar to that of its neighbour, Iran.
As they note, this does clash with their previous statements on how they expected Iraq to turn out. Furthermore, I highly doubt it would be very helpful in the fight on terror to have another country similar to Iran.
