By Deb Riechmann
The Associated Press, 06 July 2006
President Bush expressed concern Thursday that some of Iraq's neighbors might be working against the fledging Iraqi government.
"We, of course, are concerned that some in the neighborhood may want to derail the progress of a free Iraq," Bush said. "And that is troubling and something that we'll work on."
The president spoke after meeting in the Oval Office with Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad, who gave him an update on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's first trip in office to visit his Persian Gulf neighbors.
The United States pushed hard for al-Maliki's trip to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. While al-Maliki received red-carpet welcomes, the leaders privately made clear they will help the Iraqi government only if he does more to reach out to Iraqi Sunnis. The Gulf nations are dominated by Sunni governments leery of Shiite and Kurdish dominance of Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Bush also expressed concern about foreign intervention in Iraq, an apparent reference to Iran and Syria. U.S. officials accuse the two nations of turning a blind eye to the influx of violent militants. Both Syria and Iran have denied the claims, saying it is difficult to fully patrol their porous borders with Iraq.
"Zal is concerned about foreign influences in the country, as am I," Bush said.
Bush said Khalilzad gave him a "realistic" briefing on the situation in Iraq.
"On the one hand, he said they've got a good government — goal-oriented people who are working to achieve certain objectives," Bush said. "And I know that you've been impressed by Prime Minister Maliki's determination to succeed and his willingness to lay out a common-sense agenda and then hold people to account.
"Zal also said it's still a dangerous place because there are people there that will do anything to stop the progress of this new government."
Khalilzad, who went on the trip with al-Maliki, called Iraq the defining challenge of the time. "What happens in Iraq will shape the future of the Middle East, and the future of the Middle East will shape the future of the world," Khalilzad said.
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Citation: Deb Riechmann. "Bush concerned neighbors undermining Iraq," The Associated Press, 06 July 2006.
Original URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060706/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_iraq
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