WASHINGTON, Dec 20: President George Bush acknowledged on Monday that US-trained Iraqi troops were not ready to take over their country's security and cautioned that next month's elections were not going to be trouble-free.
"I certainly don't expect the process to be trouble-free," Mr Bush told his second news conference since his re-election on Nov 2. Mr Bush availed this end-of-the-year news conference also to outline his next year's agenda, ranging from overhauling America's social security system to the Jan 30 elections in Iraq.
Mr Bush also referred to President Pervez Musharraf's visit to Washington two weeks ago, pointing out that the Pakistani leader was received at the White House on a Saturday, and that Pakistan was successfully fighting Al Qaeda and Taliban "terrorists" along the Afghan border.
"And I appreciate the work of President Musharraf. He came the other day, on a Saturday morning to the White House and it was an opportunity to thank him once again for some of the bold steps he's taken," said Mr Bush.
ELECTIONS IN IRAQ: But the news conference focused on the Iraqi elections and the raging violence in the country, where attacks on US and Iraqi government targets have increased as the elections approach.
Mr Bush accused guerillas in Iraq of trying to "disrupt the democratic process" and urged the American people to remain patient well beyond the elections. "The elections in January are the beginning of a process and it is important for the American people to understand that," he said.
He said: "I would call the results mixed" on a US effort to put Iraqi security in the hands of its own people. "When the heat got on, they left the battlefield - that is unacceptable," he said. "We are under no illusion that this Iraqi force is not ready to fight in toto."
RUMSFELD DEFENDED: President Bush, however, refused to criticize the man considered the architect of his administration's Iraq policy, which hinges on raising an Iraqi force to replace US troops.
Since Sunday's deadly bombings in Iraq, some prominent Republicans in Congress, including Arizona Senator John McCain and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, have questioned Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's policies.
Democratic leaders, including Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, have called on Mr Bush to fire Mr Rumsfeld, and Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska said the lawmakers have no confidence in the defence secretary.
Mr Rumsfeld over the weekend came under a barrage of fresh criticism and accusations of "insensitivity" after admitting he did not personally sign his name on letters of condolence to families of soldiers killed in Iraq.
Earlier this month, Mr Rumsfeld also faced questioning from marines over alleged inadequacies in their kit. President Bush, however, said he's "pleased" that Mr Rumsfeld is staying on as defence secretary, dismissing calls for his resignation.
"The secretary of defence is a complex job, it's complex in times of peace, and it is complex particularly during times of war," said Mr Bush. "He is doing a fine job."
Mr Bush said Mr Rumsfeld would "reach out to members of the Hill, explain the decisions he's made. And I believe that, in a new term, members of the Senate and House will recognize what a good job he's doing".
"I know Secretary Rumsfeld's heart. I know how much he cares for the troops," Mr Bush said. "I have heard the anguish in his voice, and seen his eyes when we talk about the danger in Iraq and the fact that youngsters are over there in harm's way. He's a good decent man. He's a caring fellow."
"Sometimes, perhaps his demeanour is rough and gruff. But below that rough and gruff, no-nonsense demeanour is a good human being who cares deeply about the military and deeply about the grief that war causes," Mr Bush said.
HAMID KARZAI: Among the international leaders, Afghan President Hamid Karzai continued to draw President Bush's admiration for being "a steadfast ally" against terror.
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