Bush entreats allies to aid Iraq

A rare show of unity masks some disagreement.
SEA ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -- President Bush appealed to his big-power allies today to do more to guide Iraq's transformation into a stable democracy, saying the "Iraqi people need help" to defend themselves, rebuild their country and hold elections.
Bush's comments, made after a private meeting with a skeptical French President Jacques Chirac, came as the annual Group of Eight summit of big industrial powers was winding down -- without Bush's winning any additional commitments from summit partners for help on Iraq.
United effort
At the same time, Bush and European leaders are pledging a united effort to promote democracy and prosperity across the larger Middle East.
But that rare show of unity masks lingering discord on both that plan and, more urgently, on ways to support Iraq.
Chirac has objected to Bush's suggestion that NATO take a greater role in Iraq. And clearly those differences extended into his meeting with Bush, who acknowledged past differences with the French president but told reporters, "Friends are able to discuss the future."
Bush said he and Chirac discussed "whether or not there is a continued role for NATO" in Iraq.
"We understand the Iraqi people need help to defend themselves, to rebuild their country and, most importantly, to hold elections," Bush said.
Liked the food
When his turn came to speak, Chirac did not mention the dispute over Iraq but spoke instead of how much he had enjoyed the G-8 summit, particularly the food. "Over the last few days, this cuisine here in America was certainly on a par with French cuisine," he said.
"He particularly liked the cheeseburger he had yesterday," Bush said.
"Excellent," Chirac quipped.
A senior administration official, who was present at the meeting, said on condition of anonymity that Chirac had been "cautious, careful, but not negative" on the NATO-Iraq issue.
Bush aides said they expected to find some common ground on the issue before a NATO summit this month in Turkey.
The administration also is looking for upcoming talks to produce a breakthrough on forgiving a substantial portion of Iraq's estimated $120 billion in foreign debt.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is prepared to "eliminate the vast majority" of the Iraq debt that Japan holds if other members of the Paris Club of wealthy creditor nations do the same, said Japanese delegation spokesman Jiro Okuyama.
After the summit wraps up with African leaders, Bush and others were leaving this exclusive beach resort for Washington to attend the state funeral of former President Reagan.
On Africa, powerful leaders of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia endorsed a proposal to train and where necessary equip 75,000 new peacekeepers in the next five years.
The Bush administration also won backing from major allies for a proposal to accelerate development of an HIV vaccine, and the president today proposed spending $15 million to launch it. The money would gather people together at a yet-to-be determined medical center in the United States to advance vaccine research, said Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health.
After weeks of bad news out of Iraq, Bush was able to claim a victory as the summit began, when the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday approved a resolution granting legitimacy to the new Iraqi interim government.
Bush invited Iraq's president, Ghazi al-Yawer, to the summit to showcase the victory.
In their private discussions, Bush and al-Yawer talked about Iraqi reconstruction and the country's relations with Syria and Iran, said a senior administration official.