Bush promises Iraq a 'full sovereignty'

CARLISLE, Pa. -- President Bush, attempting to revive support for the occupation in Iraq, launched a fresh effort last night to explain the urgency of the mission and outline his strategy for promoting freedom and a democratic government, including plans to demolish the infamous Abu Ghraib prison where acts of abuse took place.

Bush seen likely to install a new commander in Iraq. A9

After weeks of tough setbacks in Iraq -- and several polls showing the worst approval ratings of his term -- Bush sought to quell concerns that the administration is acting without a concrete plan and intends to keep the US military there indefinitely. Though he added almost nothing new to the existing Iraq plan, Bush promised the United States will deliver "full sovereignty" to the transitional government scheduled to take control on June 30. And he laid out a five-step strategy, from that handover to an Iraqi election of a permanent government by the end of next year, to demonstrate the administration has "specific steps we are taking to achieve our goals."

"America's task in Iraq is not only to defeat an enemy, it is to give strength to a friend -- a free, representative government that serves its people and fights on their behalf," Bush said in his 32-minute prime-time speech at the Army War College. "And the sooner this goal is achieved, the sooner our job will be done."

In a rare concession, Bush also acknowledged there had been "failures" in the early military plans, but said they were unintended consequences of having dismantled Saddam Hussein's regime faster than expected. "We've taken steps to correct them," he said of military missteps that let the former Iraqi army fade back into the civilian population before its troops could be detained.

The mission to bring peace to Iraq has seemed increasingly out of reach in recent days, amid the mounting military and civilian death toll, investigations into the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, an alleged US bombing of an Iraqi wedding party, and the repudiation of Ahmed Chalabi, the former Iraqi exile who helped make the case for war with administration officials.

Bush acknowledged the prisoner abuse "by a few American troops who dishonored our country and disregarded our values." He said America will fund the construction of a modern maximum-security prison, and once that is complete, and detainees at Abu Ghraib are relocated, the prison will be demolished, with the approval of the Iraqi government.

Bush primarily focused last night on positive developments and optimistic plans for the future, asserting that Iraqis are "united in a broad and deep conviction." Twice, he described Iraqis as "proud people," both times pledging the United States does not intend to remain an occupying power.

"By keeping our promise on June 30th, the coalition will demonstrate that we have no interest in occupation," Bush said. "And full sovereignty will give Iraqis a direct interest in the success of their own government." He continued: "They're determined never again to live at the mercy of a dictator. And they believe that a national election will put that dark time behind them."

Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, issued a statement responding to the address saying that Bush had laid out broad ideas -- "most of which we've heard before" -- but needed to turn them into deeds.

"What's most important now is to turn these words into action by offering presidential leadership to the nation and to the world," the Kerry statement said. "That's going to require the president to genuinely reach out to our allies so the United States doesn't have to continue to go it alone and to create the stability necessary to allow the people of Iraq to move forward."

The president's speech capped a day of renewed diplomatic efforts by US officials at the United Nations, where US and British officials introduced a new resolution requesting a broader international presence in Iraq as the handover date draws nearer.

The resolution reflects the goals Bush laid out last night, including the five steps toward Iraqi sovereignty: the political handover on June 30; establishing security in the country; fully rebuilding the infrastructure; incorporating international support; and, ultimately, free elections to establish a permanent, representative government.

But, Bush warned: "As the Iraqi people move closer to governing themselves, the terrorists are likely to become more active and more brutal. There are difficult days ahead."

In his most robust language, Bush conveyed the struggle in Iraq as ideological warfare on a grand scale. "Our terrorist enemies have a vision that guides and explains all their varied acts of murder," Bush said. "They seek to impose Taliban-like rule, country by country, across the greater Middle East. They seek the total control of every person and mind and soul."

He continued: "Our actions, too, are guided by a vision. We believe that freedom can advance and change lives in the Greater Middle East, as it has advanced and changed lives in Asia, and Latin America, and Eastern Europe, and Africa.

"These two visions -- one of tyranny and murder, the other of liberty and life . . . have now met in Iraq, and are contending for the future of that country," Bush said. "My fellow Americans, we will not fail. We will persevere, and defeat this enemy, and hold this hard-won ground for the realm of liberty."

The violent situation in Iraq appears to be the driving force behind Bush's dropping popularity, with a solid majority, 60 percent, of those polled in a recent CBS survey expressing disapproval of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq.

At the same time, the percentage of those who think Bush has mishandled the prisoner abuse scandal has risen to 57 percent from 35 percent earlier this month, according to a new Washington Post/ABC poll.

Bush advisers hoped the address last night would reverse the negative trend. But key questions persisted even after last night's address.

Bush did not, for example, set a date for US military withdrawal or specify who will run the transitional government of Iraq that is scheduled to take control on June 30. And the draft UN resolution appears to indicate the transitional government will not have the power to order coalition troops out, leaving open questions about what the "full sovereignty" Bush pledged last night will mean.