Bush 'understands how tough it is' in Iraq, but won't say 'grave and deteriorating'

David Edwards and Ron BrynaertPublished: Thursday December 7, 2006

Appearing with Prime Minister Tony Blair at a White House press conference just one day after the release of the Iraq Study Group report, President Bush said that he "understands how tough it is" in Iraq, but declined to go so far as to agree that it was "grave and deteriorating."

Bush also rejected the independent, bipartisan panel's recommendation to conduct dialogues with Iran and Syria to seek their help with Iraq, unless the Iranians "verifiably suspend their enrichment program" and Syria suspends all terrorism-linked activities.

"If they want to sit down at the table with the United States, it's easy," Bush said. "Just make some decisions that'll lead to peace, not to conflict."

A BBC reporter pressed Bush on whether or not his views on the situation in Iraq were in line with the report's assessment.

"Mr. President, the Iraq Study Group described the situation in Iraq as grave and deteriorating," Nick Robertson said. "You said that the increase in attacks is 'unsettling.' That will convince many people that you're still in denial about how bad things are in Iraq and question your sincerity about changing course."

"It's bad in Iraq," Bush said simply, before adding "Does that help?" The remark was followed by chuckling.

After the reporter followed up by asking why it took "others to say it before you'd be willing to acknowledge it to the world," Bush retorted that he'd "been saying it a lot."

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