George W. Bush

In a prime-time address at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Bush outlined five steps he said would help Iraq achieve democracy and freedom. He said the U.S.-led coalition would hand over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government, help establish security, encourage more international support, continue to rebuild the nation of more than 20 million people and urge national elections.

But Bush disclosed few new details of the June 30 handover of limited sovereignty to Iraqis, declining to name the Iraqis who will take power or to clearly define the future U.S. military presence in Iraq.

Bush's speech was coordinated with the release of a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution, which the United States began to circulate earlier May 24. The draft resolution was also silent on key details of the transition. While the resolution would endorse the June 30 handover and a U.S.-led multinational force, it did not say how much influence Iraq's new government would have over use of the security forces.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 29, 2004
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