President Bush has defended his buildup of US forces in Iraq and pledged to "hang in there" with Iraqis despite calls from Congress to withdraw.
At an Asia-Pacific summit, Bush gave no indication that he planned to reverse the buildup of 30,000 extra US troops anytime soon. That increase is set to end in the spring, and while some troop adjustments could be on the horizon, Bush said nothing to indicate he would end it early.
"There's more work to be done, but reconciliation is taking place," Bush said standing alongside Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a staunch U.S. ally in the war.
"It's important, in my judgment, for the security of America, or for the security of Australia, that we hang in there with the Iraqis and help them," he said.
Howard gave Bush a prominent boost of support. He pledged not to reduce or withdraw the 1,600 Australian forces in Iraq, although he said they might take on more of a training role.
"I made it very clear to the president that our commitment to Iraq remains," Howard said. "Australian forces will remain at their present levels in Iraq not based on any calendar, but based on conditions in the ground."
Howard, however, might not have the final word on Australia's involvement in Iraq. Opposition leader Kevin Rudd, who is ahead of Howard in the polls for the upcoming election, said he wants Australian troops out of Iraq. Bush meets with Rudd later this week, but gave Howard some support in return, saying people shouldn't "count the man out."
Bush arrived at the Asian-Pacific Economic Forum after his surprise visit to Anbar Province in western Iraq, where he was briefed by Iraqi and U.S. officials, including Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Baghdad.