President George W. Bush says that the United States is supporting the moderates and reformers working for change across the broader Middle East. Mr. Bush recently met with two moderate Middle Eastern leaders - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas:
"In my meeting with President Talabani, I told him that America will continue to support Iraq's democratic government as it makes the tough decisions necessary to bring security and prosperity to the Iraqi people. I assured President Talabani that America will not abandon the Iraqi people in their struggle to defeat the terrorists and build a free society in the heart of the Middle East."
Mr. Bush said he told President Abbas that the United States remains committed to the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security:
"President Abbas shares this goal. He's working hard to oppose violent extremists and build a society in which the Palestinian people can raise their children in peace and hope. By supporting moderate leaders such as President Abbas, the United States can help Israelis and Palestinians build a more hopeful future and achieve the peace we all want in the Holy Land."
"All civilized nations," said President George W. Bush, "especially those in the Muslim world, are bound together in this struggle between moderation and extremism. By working together," he said, "we will roll back this grave threat to our way of life, we will help the people of the Middle East claim their freedom, and we will leave a safer and more hopeful world for our children and grandchildren."
The preceding was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government.
