US President George W. Bush told the United Nations on Wednesday that war alone will not win the fight against terrorism and world leaders must tackle conditions that lead the oppressed to take up arms. "We must defeat the terrorists on the battlefield and we must also defeat them in the battle of ideas," Bush told the UN World Summit.
Bush made his address with his job approval rating at an all-time low over the slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina and continued bloodshed in Iraq, where a wave of attacks on Wednesady killed more than 150 people in Baghdad.
Bush, who failed to gain UN backing in 2003 for the Iraq war over unproven charges that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, urged the UN to stand with Iraqis "as they complete the journey to a fully constitutional government."
He thanked the more than 115 nations and international organisations for offers of assistance after Hurricane Katrina caused the worst US humanitarian crisis.
"Your response, like the response to last year's tsunami, has shown once again that the world is more compassionate and hopeful when we act together," he said.
Saying increased trade could alleviate poverty, Bush said the United States was prepared to drop all obstacles to free trade if other nations followed suit.
"Today I broaden the challenge by making this pledge: The United States is ready to eliminate all tariffs, subsidies and other barriers to the free flow of goods and services if other nations do the same," he said.
A CHANGE OF TONE Bush's speech was notable for a shift in tone away from tough talk on terrorism and an emphasis on tackling the conditions that lead to militancy by spreading democracy, easing poverty and lifting the debt burden on poor countries.
"Confronting our enemies is essential, and so civilised nations will continue to take the fight to the terrorists. Yet we know that this war will not be won by force of arms alone," Bush said.
It will take a collective effort, he said, citing many countries that have suffered attacks.
"The lesson is clear. There can be no safety in looking away or seeking the quiet life by ignoring the hardship and oppression of others. Either hope will spread or violence will spread, and we must take the side of hope," Bush said.
Bush came to the United Nations for a renewed focus on international problems after devoting the last two weeks to an intense focus on hurricane relief at home and attempting to correct a sluggish government response to the disaster.
After his address, Bush held talks with Israeli Prime Ariel Sharon and told him he was "inspired" by the courage Sharon showed in his decision to pull out of Gaza.
He also had talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, his chief ally on Iraq.
In his speech, Bush warned that if avian flu is not contained, it could become a pandemic.
Since 2003, the highly pathogenic strain of the disease known as H5N1 has killed more than 60 people in Asia, most of whom caught the virus from infected birds. The greatest worry is that it could mutate and become transmissible between people.
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