Addressing an audience at Carlisle Barracks — home to the war college — Monday night, President Bush spoke for a half-hour about the war in Iraq. Offering somewhat more definition than his administration had in the past, Bush outlined five general steps for establishing a sovereign Iraqi state: A transition of power, rebuilding infrastructure, improving security, working toward a national election and encouraging international support of efforts in the nation.
And despite recent troubles in the embattled nation — the 138,000 troops in Iraq now comprise a somewhat larger force than the 115,000 that were anticipated to be needed by this point in the conflict — Bush remained generally optimistic.
“Despite past disagreements, most nations have indicated strong support for the success of a free Iraq,” he explained, “and I am confident they will share that success.”
Bush clarified and more specifically defined what the interim government will be, including a prime minister, a president, two vice-presidents and a few dozen Cabinet ministers. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested that the new Iraqi government’s decisions might trump the Coalition’s desires, if the issue arises.
“If there’s a political decision as to whether you go into a place like Fallujah in a particular way, that has to be done with the consent of the Iraqi government,” he said.
Although the Emerald Editorial Board recognizes that Bush’s speech was short and didn’t address many of the even broader issues at hand, more definition in the mission is needed for the sake of building confidence in reconstructing Iraq — on the parts of Americans, the world community and, most importantly, Iraqis.
Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., the ranking Dem on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted, “He didn’t say who’s going to send more troops,” conceding that Bush might address that point in an upcoming speech (Monday’s speech was the first of six scheduled between this week and the June 30 handover of power in Iraq. Biden also said Bush should explain how some 35,000 Iraqi soldiers will be trained, too.)
League of Arab States Ambassador Yahya Mahmassani was more pessimistic, telling CNN, “(Bush’s speech was) essentially the same statement we have heard before, except now actually he gives a general outline. … I think essentially the situation in Iraq is getting from bad to worse.”
Even this general plan still evidently needs adjustments: Speaking on Tuesday, Bush and French President Jacques Chirac agreed the outline needs some changes to win U.N. Security Council support. Meanwhile, Russia wants more details of the interim government plan worked out.
So, the Bush administration should maintain an open dialogue with its foreign counterparts for the good of the Iraqi people and international stability alike.