Bush, Blair chart new approach for Iraq and the Middle East

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-08-2006 08:40

US President George W. Bush has met British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Top of the agenda was the way forward for Iraq and the Middle East, at a difficult time for both.

US President George W. Bush said on Thursday that a bipartisan panel's report calling for a major course change in Iraq was an important document, but just one of several reports he will consider as he charts a new strategy.

The report, released on Wednesday and written under the leadership of former US Secretary of State James Baker and former US Representative Lee Hamilton, painted a dire picture of the situation in Iraq more than three years after the war started.

The report also suggested the United States should find ways to pull back most of its combat forces by early 2008.

Bush admitted that "it's bad in Iraq,"and stressed the strong bond between United States and Britain in the fight against terrorism.

Bush said, "Britain and America are old allies and the prime minister and I are strong friends. But Britain and America are not standing together in this war because of friendship. We are standing together because our two nations face an unprecedented threat to civilization."

Blair said he welcomed the report of the Iraq Study Group despite its depiction of a failed policy that both he and Bush had previously embraced, saying it offers a strong way forward.

"All of us who are engaged in this, but particularly those in the region, live up to their responsibilities in supporting the Malaki government, in ensuring that Iraq is able to proceed in a democratic and non-sectarian way." said Blair.

Blair went on to assert that success in Iraq depends on victory over extremists across the "wider Middle East". He also emphasized the need to do everything possible to bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Editor:Du Xiaodan