The United States and the European Union offered strong support for Iraq's urgent request for NATO military help Saturday. "NATO has the capability and I believe the responsibility to help the Iraqi people defeat the terrorist threat that's facing their country," President Bush stated.
"I think the bitter differences of the war are over," Bush said at the close of a U.S.-European Union summit. "There is a common interest and a common goal to help the Iraqi people."
But the joint statement also made a strong criticism of abuse of prisoners by American soldiers.
"We stress the need for full respect of the Geneva Conventions," the statement said.
Bush said EU leaders had raised the topic with him in meetings Saturday.
"It did harm. It did harm," Bush said. But, he said, the American investigations will be done openly, as opposed to the secrecy of Saddam Hussein's atrocities. "I don't remember any international investigation of what took place in Iraq" under Saddam, Bush said at a news conference closing out the U.S.-EU summit.
Bush also described the threat posed by Jordanian-born activist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who has been linked to al-Qaeda. "He is a problem because he is willing to kill innocent people" to stop the advance of freedom in Iraq.
From Ireland, Bush was heading later Saturday to a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he plans to press other leaders for their help in securing Iraq.
The people of the Middle East were "eager for reform" and the EU and US were ready to assist them, Bush added. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
