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2-14-06, 9:01 am

In his State of the Union address on January 31 (EST), U.S. President George W. Bush devoted the most part of his foreign policy statement to Middle East affairs and said that the United States 'rejects the false comfort of isolationism,' and that it 'will not retreat from the world,' claiming that 'every step toward freedom in the world makes our country safer, so we will act boldly in freedom's cause.'

He apparently had in mind the growing international criticism of the lawless U.S. war of aggression against Iraq and the increasing anti-U.S. sentiments in Middle Eastern countries.

Even after the parliamentary election late last year, Iraq has been unable to get out of the quagmire of war. Since British and U.S. forces invaded Iraq preemptively, about 30,000 Iraqis have been killed and more than 2,200 U.S. soldiers have died.

Bush himself is responsible for the many losses of life and for the devastation of Iraq's land.

Bush talked about 'the spread of freedom.' It is only an 'afterthought' because he found it difficult to justify the unjustifiable war.

Restoring sovereignty to the Iraqi people is essential for ensuring that the Iraqi people can decide their country's destiny without outside interference. As long as President Bush insists on keeping the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq, true freedom will never come to the country.

Nothing can justify the encroachment of sovereignty and aggression in the name of 'freedom.' President Bush must withdraw the occupation forces from Iraq in response to international demand.

From Akahata