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Journalism of Courage
President Bush said in an interview that he would withdraw US troops from Iraq if the new government that is elected on Sunday asked him to do so, but that he expected Iraq’s first democratically elected leaders would want the United States to remain as helpers, not as occupiers.
‘‘I’ve heard the voices of the people that presumably will be in positions of responsibility after these elections, though you never know,’’ Bush said. ‘‘But it seems that most of the leadership there understands that there will be a need for coalition troops at least until the Iraqis are able to fight.’’ He did not say who he expected would emerge victorious from the first competitive Iraqi election in a generation. But asked if the US would pull its troops out of Iraq at the request of a new government, he said: ‘‘Yes, absolutely.
This is a sovereign government — they’re on their feet.’’ Some members of the administration have made similar pledges, but this was the first time Bush has done so. —NYT
