By Tom Raum
The Associated Press, 11 March 2007
BOGOTA, Colombia - President Bush said Sunday that 4,700 additional troops he is sending to Iraq above an increase announced in January are slated for support roles only, and urged Congress to approve funding for the war "without any strings attached."
Two months ago, after an extensive review, Bush ordered 21,500 additional American soldiers to Iraq to help calm Baghdad and the troubled Anbar Province.
"Those combat troops are going to need, you know, some support, and that's what the American people are seeing in terms of Iraq — the support troops necessary to help the reinforcements do their job," Bush said at a news conference here with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
The president also expressed skepticism about pledges from
Iran and
Syria in support of stabilizing Iraq. The two nations, as well the United States and others, took part in an international conference in Baghdad on Saturday aimed in part at preventing violence from engulfing the Middle East.
"If they really want to help stabilize Iraq, there are things for them to do, such as cutting off weapons flows and or the flow of suicide bombers into Iraq," Bush said of the two U.S. foes in the Middle East.
The president said he hopes momentum will carry over to the next such conference — leaving the door open for more U.S. contact with Iran and Syria over Iraq. As a sign of the U.S. commitment, he said, Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice will be the nation's representative next time.
"I'm not dissing anybody," Bush said, "but it's a step up in the pay grade."
The new announcement for troops in Iraq, made over the weekend, includes 2,400 combat support troops, 2,200 military police and 100 troops to protect economic reconstruction teams.
Of the roughly 141,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, about 60,000 are combat forces and the rest are support troops.
Bush asked Congress on Friday for $3.2 billion to pay for the new Iraq troops, as well as for 3,500 new U.S. troops to expand training of local police and army units in
Afghanistan.
This revision came as lawmakers opposed to the war have been debating the $93.4 billion in additional defense money he's already requested to finance this year's war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
House Democratic leaders say they will try to attach language to the war funding bill that would require Bush to remove U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of August 2008. That deadline could be expedited, possibly to the end of 2007, if the Iraqi government fails to meet commitments for stepping up security operations, distributing oil revenue and allowing amendments to the country's constitution.
The Democratic plan would also bar the military from deploying troops who do not meet existing standards for equipping, training and resting U.S. troops, though Bush would be allowed to waive those standards.
"My hope, of course, is that Congress provides the funding necessary for the combat troops to be able to do their job — without any strings attached," said Bush, who has threatened to veto the legislation if it makes it to his desk with the restrictions being pushed by Democrats.
No votes have been taken on the latest Democratic proposals.
Bush's brief visit here — which took his motorcade not far from rioting protesters — was meant as a show of confidence in Uribe and the battle against narcoterrorists in this strong but drug and violence-plagued U.S. ally.
"Your country has come through very difficult times and now there's a brighter day ahead," Bush said in a toast after he Uribe met and had lunch at the presidential palace. "We have been friends and we will remain friends."
Bush has indicated he will ask Congress to maintain current aid levels to Colombia at roughly $700 million annually.
Bush's renewal of support came at a key moment.
Uribe is involved in a political scandal involving allies who allegedly colluded with right-wing militias in a reign of terror that nearly subverted Colombian democracy.
And Democrats who now control the U.S. Congress are asking tough questions about whether U.S. aid to Colombia is effective. Colombia receives more U.S. money than any country outside the Middle East and Afghanistan — to the tune of nearly $4 billion in mostly military aid since Uribe took office in 2002.
Colombia remains the source of more than 90 percent of the world's cocaine despite record aerial fumigation of coca crops. And the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, has neither been defeated nor had any members of its leadership captured.
Uribe is aware of the stakes. A rambling opening statement at his joint appearance with Bush seemed designed to reassure foreign audiences.
"I would like you to know, Mr. President, that our commitment is the full defeat of terrorists and the total recovery of justice and of democratic institutions," Uribe said.
Bush said Uribe is working on the release of three Americans held by rebels for more than four years in Colombia.
"I am concerned about their safety. I really am worried about their families. These are three innocent folks who have been held hostage for too long," Bush said. "Their kidnappers ought to show some heart."
The president received red-carpet welcomes — as well as a large protest about a mile away from the palace. Some 2,000 protesters chanted "Down with Bush" and burned American flags.
About 150 of them broke away, attacking riot police with rocks and metal barriers and ripping down lampposts. Some 200 helmeted police in full body armor responded with water cannons and tear gas to reclaim the street.
Extraordinary security had some 20,000 police and heavily armed troops mobilized to prevent any rebel attack.
Sharpshooters were positioned on rooftops, the city center was shut down to traffic and Bogotanos had to do without their beloved "ciclovia," in which major avenues are given over on Sundays to biking, skating and jogging.
Bush and Uribe also discussed a U.S.-Colombia free-trade agreement now stalled in Congress.
After meeting with Uribe, Bush talked with Colombians who are benefiting from various U.S programs.
Bush flew in to Colombia from Uruguay, and was heading to Guatemala immediately after his meetings. He also is visiting Brazil and Mexico on his Latin American travels.
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Citation: Tom Raum. "Bush: New Iraq troops for support roles," The Associated Press, 11 March 2007.
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