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Bush, Blair for charting new directions in Iraq

`Success in Iraq may depend on victory over extremists across broader Middle East'

Washington: U.S. President George W. Bush said on Thursday that a bipartisan panel's call for a major change of course in Iraq was an important document, but just one of several reports he will consider as he charts a new strategy.

Standing alongside British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr. Bush acknowledged that, "It's bad in Iraq."

Both Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair agreed that success in Iraq may depend on victory over extremists across the broader Middle East.

The two leaders met a day after the Iraq Study Group headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker and former Democratic Representative Lee Hamilton issued a report saying their war policies had failed and a major course correction was needed, including beginning to withdraw combat troops.

Mr. Blair said the report "offers a strong way forward. I think it is important now we concentrate on the elements that are necessary to make sure that we succeed - because the consequences of failure are severe."

Asked at a joint news conference when the President would start to carry out recommendations for a change, Mr. Bush noted that other studies were still under way by the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House National Security Council.

He said he would make major policy decisions "after I get the reports". He called the Baker-Hamilton report "certainly an important part of our deliberations and an important part of our discussions this morning."

Mr. Bush said that Iran and Syria must stop helping extremists and commit to help Iraq's fledgling government before any talks with the two. "If people come to the table to discuss Iraq, they need to come understanding their responsibilities to not fund terrorists, to help this young democracy survive, to help with the economics of the country," he said of Iran and Syria's alleged involvement in Iraq's troubles.

"And if people are not committed, if Syria and Iran is not committed to that concept then they shouldn't bother to show up," said Mr. Bush, who also ruled out direct talks with Iran unless it verifiably freezes sensitive nuclear work.

Mr. Blair will launch a Middle East mission to show U.S. and British commitment to ending the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The Iraq Study Group said that Mr. Bush had to launch a new Middle East peace effort to give the United States renewed credibility in the region. - AP

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