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Bush U.N. speech draws mixed, partisan reviewsLawmakers stress need for international support
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush's address to the United Nations on Iraq drew mixed and largely partisan reviews Tuesday from lawmakers with Republicans praising his leadership and Democrats faulting what several described as a go-it-alone mentality. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, called the address "comprehensive and compelling" and called on other nations to pitch in with the reconstruction of Iraq and the defeat of terrorism. "Now the international community needs to step up to the plate and help the United States finish the job," Hastert said. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska, called Bush's speech "another important step forward," and he stressed the need to work with allies on Iraq. "Success depends on the engagement and commitment of the world community," Hagel said. Even as they commended Bush for his speech, several Republican said that the United States faces a daunting task in trying to bring stability and democracy to Iraq. "The fundamental fact remains we do not have a secure nation," said Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, citing the Sunni Triangle, north of Baghdad, as an area of particular violence. Democrats were sharper in their critique, particularly those seeking their party's 2004 presidential nomination. "The fact is, the president's eleventh-hour, halfhearted appeal to the United Nations, and his continuing I-told-you-so tone, have made it more difficult to secure international assistance in building a safe, stable and self-governing Iraq," said Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Connecticut. Lieberman, a prominent Democratic supporter of the war, called on Bush to turn over Iraq's administration to an international authority within 60 days. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, another Democratic contender, said Bush took "too long to make a compelling case to the United Nations" and has complicated efforts to "build a broader coalition." In his speech, Bush said he sought the aid of "all nations of good will" in rebuilding the country in the war's aftermath. The speech, at the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, came as the United States is lobbying for a new Security Council resolution that would give the United Nations a greater role in the reconstruction effort and authorize a multinational force to help provide security in Iraq. (Full story) McCain called the address "a good speech" but said he is not optimistic about the prospect of negotiations in the U.N. Security Council. "I think it's appropriate that we start turning over portions of the government to the Iraqi ruling council and set the stage for a new election and adoption of a constitution," he said. But even though the current head of the Iraqi Governing Council, Ahmad Chalabi, and others want the United States to cede more authority to them, "it has to be done in a measured fashion," McCain said. The Bush administration has asked Congress for more than $20 billion for reconstruction work in Iraq in addition to the cost of occupying the country. But Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Connecticut, said the United States will be unlikely to enlist more international help "if they don't have some say in how this money will be spent and how this reconstruction will be conducted. "There's great respect for what our military has done, but we want to see more nations get involved in this," Dodd said. "Right now, only about $1 billion has been forthcoming. That's less than a week's support of what we need in Iraq."
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