Bush's plan for Arab world faces test at G-8 summit

Russia, France, Germany and Canada still oppose putting troops in Iraq.
SEA ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -- The United States and its biggest allies are proclaiming that a unanimous U.N. vote will heal their bitter divisions over Iraq. But the newfound unity faces a major test when they take up a U.S. plan to expand the push for democracy throughout the Arab world.
President Bush was touting the success on Iraq in a one-on-one meeting with the new interim Iraqi president, Ghazi al-Yawer on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit.
But significantly, the four G-8 nations that have refused to send troops to Iraq -- Russia, France, Germany and Canada -- said the U.N. Security Council resolution did not change their opposition to putting troops in the country.
A resigned Bush said, "I expect nations will contribute as they see fit."
Protesters kept away
Massive security kept the handful of anti-globalization protesters far away from the exclusive barrier island resort where this year's G-8 summit was taking place.
The G-8 leaders were confronting an array of topics on their second day of talks today, starting with threats to the global economy, such as the spike in oil prices.
Many allies see America's soaring budget and trade deficits as equally threatening to world prosperity. But administration officials say Bush will defend his tax cuts as the critical ingredient to jump-start the U.S. and world economies.
Bush will also cite his pledge to cut the federal budget deficit in half over the next five years.
The world leaders were meeting over lunch with the leaders of six Middle Eastern nations in a discussion aimed at boosting Bush's initiative to promote freedom, democracy and economic growth throughout the Middle East. Bush hopes the plan will emerge as the central achievement of the summit.
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