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Bush warns of new Vietnam in Iraq Bush warns of new Vietnam in Iraq
(30 minutes later)
President George W Bush has warned a US withdrawal from Iraq could trigger the kind of upheaval seen in South East Asia after US forces quit Vietnam.President George W Bush has warned a US withdrawal from Iraq could trigger the kind of upheaval seen in South East Asia after US forces quit Vietnam.
"The price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens," he told war veterans in Missouri."The price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens," he told war veterans in Missouri.
Mr Bush said the Vietnam War had taught the need for US patience over Iraq.Mr Bush said the Vietnam War had taught the need for US patience over Iraq.
His speech comes amid an apparent rift with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, but Mr Bush said Mr Maliki was a "good man with a difficult job".His speech comes amid an apparent rift with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, but Mr Bush said Mr Maliki was a "good man with a difficult job".
The ideals and interests that led America to help the Japanese turn defeat into democracy are the same that lead us to remain engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq US President George Bush Choosing Vietnam lessons Why the US is unhappy Crash kills 14 US soldiers
Hours earlier, Mr Maliki called recent US criticism of his work "discourteous".Hours earlier, Mr Maliki called recent US criticism of his work "discourteous".
The White House was swift to respond, saying in a statement that Mr Bush still believes that Mr Maliki is the right person to lead IraqThe White House was swift to respond, saying in a statement that Mr Bush still believes that Mr Maliki is the right person to lead Iraq
Mr Bush began his speech at the annual convention for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) group, being held in Kansas City, by flagging up US successes in staying the distance in other conflicts - particularly in turning Japan from an enemy into a key ally. Mr Bush began his speech at the annual convention for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) group, in Kansas City, by flagging up US successes in staying the distance in other conflicts - particularly in turning Japan from an enemy into a key ally.
Here at home, some can argue our withdrawal from Vietnam carried no price to American credibility, but the terrorists see things differently US President George Bush class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6958440.stm">Why the US is unhappy class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6958116.stm">Crash kills 14 US soldiers Legacy of defeat
"The ideals and interests that led America to help the Japanese turn defeat into democracy are the same that lead us to remain engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq," Mr Bush said."The ideals and interests that led America to help the Japanese turn defeat into democracy are the same that lead us to remain engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq," Mr Bush said.
"The defence strategy that refused to hand the South Koreans over to a totalitarian neighbour helped raise up an Asian Tiger that is a model for developing countries across the world, including the Middle East." Mr Bush spoke of the massacres under Cambodia's Khmer Rouge"The defence strategy that refused to hand the South Koreans over to a totalitarian neighbour helped raise up an Asian Tiger that is a model for developing countries across the world, including the Middle East."
Mr Bush compared current calls for withdrawal from Iraq with what happened in the Vietnam War. Mr Bush compared current calls for withdrawal from Iraq with what happened at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
"Many argued that if we pulled out, there would be no consequences for the Vietnamese people," Mr Bush said. "The world would learn just how costly these misimpressions would be."Many argued that if we pulled out, there would be no consequences for the Vietnamese people," Mr Bush said. "The world would learn just how costly these misimpressions would be.
"In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge began a murderous rule in which hundreds of thousands of Cambodians died by starvation and torture and execution. "Three decades later, there is a legitimate debate about how we got into the Vietnam War and how we left.
We care for our people and our constitution and can find friends elsewhere Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki Damascus welcomes Iraqi PM Volunteer force recruitedWe care for our people and our constitution and can find friends elsewhere Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki Damascus welcomes Iraqi PM Volunteer force recruited
"In Vietnam, former American allies, government workers, intellectuals, and businessmen were sent off to prison camps, where tens of thousands perished. "Whatever your position in that debate, one unmistakable legacy of Vietnam is that the price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens," Mr Bush said, mentioning reprisals against US allies in Vietnam, the displacement of Vietnamese refugees and the massacres in Cambodia under Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge.
"Hundreds of thousands more fled the country on rickety boats, many of them going to their graves in the South China Sea," Mr Bush said.
"Three decades later, there is a legitimate debate about how we got into the Vietnam War and how we left," Mr Bush added.
"Whatever your position in that debate, one unmistakable legacy of Vietnam is that the price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens whose agonies would add to our vocabulary new terms like 'boat people,' 're-education camps' and 'killing fields'."
He warned that in Iraq there was the added danger that a US withdrawal would signal victory for al-Qaeda, emboldening its leaders and drawing in new recruits.He warned that in Iraq there was the added danger that a US withdrawal would signal victory for al-Qaeda, emboldening its leaders and drawing in new recruits.
"Here at home, some can argue our withdrawal from Vietnam carried no price to American credibility, but the terrorists see things differently," Mr Bush said.
In other news in Iraq:In other news in Iraq:
  • Fourteen US soldiers were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter in which they were travelling crashed in northern Iraq. The military said a mechanical fault was to blame.
  • Fourteen US soldiers were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter in which they were travelling crashed in northern Iraq. The military said a mechanical fault was to blame.
  • At least 20 people were killed and 50 injured when a suicide bomber rammed a fuel tanker into a police station in the northern oil city of Baiji.
  • At least 20 people were killed and 50 injured when a suicide bomber rammed a fuel tanker into a police station in the northern oil city of Baiji.
  • The deputy US commander in Iraq told the BBC that the US has recruited 20,000 civilian volunteers to act as local police in sensitive areas of the country.
    		•
  • The deputy US commander in Iraq told the BBC that the US had recruited 20,000 civilian volunteers to act as local police in sensitive areas of the country.
    • 'Seeking friends elsewhere'
    Mr Bush's speech came as Mr Maliki was moved to defend his administration in the face of US criticism.Mr Bush's speech came as Mr Maliki was moved to defend his administration in the face of US criticism.
    "No-one has the right to place timetables" on the Iraqi government's performance Mr Maliki said, blaming the US presidential election campaign for many of the negative comments being made. The Bush administration has called on Mr Maliki's cabinet to perform"No-one has the right to place timetables" on the Iraqi government's performance Mr Maliki said, blaming the US presidential election campaign for many of the negative comments being made.
    Speaking at the end of a visit to Syria, he said Iraq would pay no attention and could "find friends elsewhere".Speaking at the end of a visit to Syria, he said Iraq would pay no attention and could "find friends elsewhere".
    On Tuesday, President Bush had appeared to distance himself from Mr Maliki's government for the first time. On Tuesday, Mr Bush had appeared to distance himself from Mr Maliki's government for the first time.
    Mr Bush said the people of Iraq had made a great step towards reconciliation. However he added that there was "a certain level of frustration with the leadership" of Mr Maliki and that his government now had to perform.Mr Bush said the people of Iraq had made a great step towards reconciliation. However he added that there was "a certain level of frustration with the leadership" of Mr Maliki and that his government now had to perform.
    "If the government doesn't respond to the demands of the people, they will replace the government - that's up the Iraqis to make that decision, not American politicians," he said.