Bush's muster call unheeded

By RUPERT CORNWELL in WASHINGTON

President George W. Bush's uncompromising demands for help from at home and abroad with the rebuilding of Iraq yesterday received a tepid response from America's allies, and withering criticism from Democrats seeking to challenge him in 2004.

There is little doubt that Congress will grant Bush the US$87 billion ($150 billion) he is requesting for reconstruction and military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan - even though this is even more than expected, and certain to push next year's budget deficit close to a record $600 billion.

Howard Dean, whose emergence as Democratic frontrunner owes much to his opposition to the Iraq invasion, drew the parallel with America's slide into the Vietnam morass. He called the speech "nothing short of outrageous".

The Government, he said "is again feeding misinformation to the American people to justify an enormous commitment of US troops."

He shares the belief of the overwhelming majority of Democrats and Republicans that the country must now make the best of a bad job and enlist international support. But, he stressed, "failure is not an option".

Yesterday the outside world was showing no great eagerness to assist in providing the extra multinational division Bush asked for. in his 18-minute prime time speech. nte

Germany, a leading opponent of the war, said it had no plans to become militarily engaged, and other potential donors will wait to see how much authority the US is prepared to cede to the United Nations.

Surprisingly, the most positive response came from France, nemesis of US and British efforts to secure a new Security Council resolution last March. French European Affairs Minister Noelle Lenoir said Bush's speech could pave the way for a deal on a new resolution.

Washington would ideally like approval before the President travels to New York to speak to the UN General Assembly in two weeks.

Bush threw few morsels to critics, who had hoped for concessions or a note of contrition. Though he acknowledged some countries had not agreed with the decision to go to war, he said the international community now had the responsibility and duty to help put Iraq to rights.

He made just one cursory reference to the alleged weapons of mass destruction that were the justification for the invasion (though none, nor even serious proof of such weapons programmes have been found in the six months since). Instead, he presented the toppling of Saddam Hussein as part of the war against terrorism.

Critics say that by sending in US troops he has made Iraq a magnet for terrorists.

Nor did the President offer a timetable for US withdrawal or an estimate of the long-term costs of occupation, saying merely that creating a stable Iraq would take time and require sacrifice. But with an election only 14 months off and his own popularity falling to pre-September 11, 2001, levels of barely 50 per cent, Bush is loath to spell out what those sacrifices might be.

Yesterday White House officials insisted he intends to make his two rounds of tax cuts permanent, despite the massive 2004 deficit and the prospect of more of the same for years to come.

But although the $87 billion request will almost certainly go through, Democrats and Republican fiscal hawks on Capitol Hill will demand offsetting action to keep the deficit under control.

Compensating spending cuts, when most states are strapped for cash, will eat into education, welfare and health care programmes, and provide further ammunition for his Democratic challengers.

- INDEPENDENT


Herald Feature: Iraq