By KUNA
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait : US President George Bush said here Saturday that America’s new approach in Iraqi prevented more violence and had paved way to sending more US troops back home.
Speaking to reporters after talks with US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and top US General in Iraqi General David Petraeus, Bush said that Iraq was living by sectarian violence one year ago.
This violence, Bush said at Camp Arifjan, the base of the third US army, increased in the course of 2006 and threatened the collapse of the political process.
Kuwait President Bush, accompanied by his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, met earlier with Crocker and Petraeus earlier in the day and discussed the situation in Iraq, the progress been made and challenges lying ahead.
“One year ago Iraq was living by sectarian violence, violence increased in the course of 2006 and threatened the collapse of the political process, Al-Qaeda was strengthening its grip in Iraq including the capital city Baghdad, ” said Bush.
He said “Shiite extremist groups with the backing of Iran were increasing attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces.” This had prompted the US government to change strategy in Iraq.
“Our strategy was not working and the world was watching. We changed our approach, stand with the Iraqi people and help them take their country from the terrorists and extremists,” said Bush.
“We choose to help our Iraqi partners and protect people from terrorists,” he said.
Bush said part of this strategy was to send more troops to Iraq in what was known as the “surge,” to help improve security situation in Iraq.
“We sent more combat troops to Iraq with a mission to protecting the Iraqi people and fighting the enemy and denying them sanctuary anywhere in the country,” he said.
Parallel to the military front, the US had also begun a diplomatic surge, he said.
“We began a diplomatic surge, cutting off networks of foreign fighters flowing into Iraq from Syria and cut support of Shiite extremists coming from Iran, said the US president, who arrived here yesterday within a regional tour.
Kuwait US President George Bush said Al-Qaeda remained dangerous and would continue to target innocent people, but the US and Iraqi government were determined to fight them until they are defeated.
“We dealt Al-Qaeda in Iraqi heavy blows is now facing a growing uprising from ordinary Iraqis,” said Bush.
Bush noted that “Iranian agents are in our custody and we are learning more how Iran is supporting extremist groups.” He did not elaborate.
Bush also commended the Iraqi government for the efforts it was conducting noting that the Iraqi forces have carried out a surge of their own, generating more than a 100,000 policemen and army soldiers, in addition to seeing citizens working with coalition forces.
These positive improves, said Bush, were paving way for sending more US forces home that would not be replaced.
But he stopped short to say additional reduction of troops would be based on recommendation of general Petraeus and based entirely on condition on the ground in Iraq.
Bush, on the other hand, urged the Iraq leaders to continue with reforms with special emphasis on need of passing debaathification and national budget bills.
He, anew, called upon Syria to “work to reduce flow of terrorists : specially suicide bombers.” He also urged Iran “to stop supporting the militias and special groups that are attacking Iraqi and coalition forces.” The entire international community should join hands to helping the Iraqis, said Bush who noted that Kuwait would be hosting a meeting of countries neighboring Iraq.
“We appreciated the fact that Kuwait is taking the lead in hosting the next neighboring meeting,” said Bush.