WRAP Bush comments on Italian troops in Iraq, and Wolfowitz

Описание: (16 Mar 2005)

Washington, DC, US - 16 March, 2005
1. Close-up pan as President Bush walks into briefing room
2. Cutaway photographers
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"He (Silvio Berlusconi) said first of all he wanted me to know that there was no change in his policy, that in fact any withdrawals would be done in consultation with allies and would be done depending upon the abilities with Iraqis to defend ourselves. I said, 'Are you sure I can say this to the press corps?' that will be wanting to know what took place in our conversation, he said 'Absolutely'. So I think that what you are going to find is that countries will be willing or anxious to get out when Iraqis have the capacity to defend themselves. And that is the position of the United States, our troops will come home when Iraq is capable of defending herself."
4. Pan of news conference
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"Iraq had a meeting today of its transitional National Assembly. A bright moment in what is a process towards writing of a constitution, ratification of the Constitution and elections. I congratulate the Iraqis for their assembly. I have always said it is a process and today was a step in that process."
6. Cutaway reporters
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"In a post 9-11 world the United States must make sure we protect our people and our friends from attack. That was the charge we had been given. And one way to do so is to arrest people and send them back to their country of origin, with the promise they won't be tortured. It was a promise we received. This country doesn't believe in torture. We do believe in protecting ourselves. We don't believe in torture."
8. Cutaway reporters
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"He (Paul Wolfowitz) is a skilled diplomat, worked at State Department in high positions, was Ambassador to Indonesia - where he did a very good job of representing our country. And Paul is committed to development, a compassionate, decent man who will do a fine job in the World Bank."

FILE: Baghdad, Iraq - February 2005
10. Mid and close-up view of US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz during visit

STORYLINE

United States President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he understands the desire of US coalition partners to withdraw troops from Iraq, but he declined to set a timetable for bringing American forces home and said he hoped others would also stay the course.

At a news conference in Washington before leaving for his Easter break, President Bush told reporters that US troops would return when the Iraqis are able to defend themselves.

He spoke a day after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced plans to withdraw his country's 3,000-strong contingent in Iraq.

The US president denied that the so-called "coalition of the willing" was crumbling.

Bush also praised Iraq for Wednesday's opening session of the country's first freely elected parliament in half a century.

The parliament's 275 members, chosen during January 30 elections, convened in an auditorium in the heavily guarded Green Zone with US helicopter gunships overhead.

Bush called the meeting "a bright moment" in Iraq's history.

Commenting on reports about detainees being sent by the United States back to their home countries, where they could be tortured, the president shrugged off the allegations, saying US authorities sought assurances that no one would be tortured.



The United States is the World Bank's largest shareholder.





Approval is expected.


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