Bush, Iraqi leader to increase forces in Baghdad

Bush has praise for counterpart
Bush complimented the beleaguered leader for his courage and perseverance in the face of sectarian violence. Recent attacks have sapped political support for the more than 3-year-old war in Iraq, in both the United States and Iraq.

The administration insists that Hezbollah must first return two captured Israeli soldiers and stop firing missiles into Israel before any cease-fire. “I told him (al-Maliki) I support a sustainable cease-fire that will bring about an end to violence,” Bush said.

Al-Maliki is to address Congress on Wednesday. Some Democrats said they might shun the Iraqi leader’s speech unless he condemns Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and promises not to extend amnesty to Iraqis who killed U.S. troops.

Democrats criticize al-Maliki
A group of House Democrats called on GOP leaders to cancel al-Maliki’s address. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he doubted he would attend and that there were a “large number of people (in Congress) who were uncomfortable” with al-Maliki’s condemnation of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and apparent support for Hezbollah.

Al-Maliki sidestepped a question at the White House news conference about his position on Hezbollah.

“Here, actually, we’re talking about the suffering of a people in a country. And we are not in the process of reviewing one issue or another, or any government position,” al-Maliki said.

Ahead of al-Maliki’s speech to Congress on Wednesday, Bush was taking him to nearby Fort Belvoir, Va., for a meeting with U.S. troops and their families. Both leaders will “thank them for their courage and their sacrifice,” Bush said.

No killing, discrimination policy?
The president said improved military conditions outside Baghdad will make it possible to move U.S. military police and other forces to the capital, where an estimated 100 people a day are being killed. The crimes, blamed largely on sectarian death squads, usually go unsolved.

Al-Maliki said the most important element of a new security program “is to curb the religious violence.”

Iraq’s government must have a policy that “there is no killing and discrimination against anyone,” al-Maliki said.

U.S. officials believe control of Baghdad — the political, cultural and economic hub of the country — will determine the future of Iraq.

U.S. and Iraqi soldiers captured six members of an alleged death squad in Baghdad on Tuesday, while attacks elsewhere in Iraq left more than two-dozen dead.

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