DONNELLY, Idaho - President George W. Bush said
that Iraq's Sunnis, who have balked at a draft
constitution offered by Shi'ites and Kurds, have to
decide if they want to live in a society of freedom
or violence.
Iraq's Shi'ite-led government has ruled out any
major change to a draft constitution that parliament
looks set to pass this week despite minority Sunni
objections that it could ignite civil war.
Sunnis mainly oppose the constitution because they
see it as giving too much power to the majority
Shi'ites, who are pushing for a large autonomous
region in the oil-rich south. |
U.S. President George W. Bush
Photo: White House |
|
"This
talk about Sunnis rising up, I mean the Sunnis have
got to make a choice. Do they want to live in a
society that's free, or do they want to live in
violence?" Bush told reporters at a resort in Idaho.
Bush, traveling from Texas where he is on a
month-long vacation, has sought to counter anti-war
protesters and sagging public opinion about the war
in Iraq. He said the United States needs to complete
its mission there to protect American security and
that a withdrawal would weaken the United States.
He described the Iraq constitution as guaranteeing
"minority rights, women's rights, freedom to
worship."
Kurds, however, have complained that U.S. diplomats,
who have insisted that women and minorities should
enjoy equal rights, had conceded ground to the
Islamists in order to have the draft constitution
ready to submit to parliament.
Bush has repeatedly said Iraqi forces must be able
to take over security before U.S. troops can
withdraw.
"I think immediate withdrawal from Iraq would be a
mistake. I think those who advocate immediate
withdrawal from not only Iraq but the Middle East
... are advocating a policy that would weaken the
United States," Bush said.
He planned to meet with a group of military families
on Wednesday in Idaho after making a speech on the
U.S. war on terrorism, but has no plans to meet
Sheehan.
Reuters
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