Bush: U.S. to Bear Burden of Iraq Costs

WASHINGTON (AP) -
President Bush said Monday that seeing Iraq through reconstruction to a stable and secure democracy is a worthy cause that the United States will press regardless of whether its coalition partners remain there.

"The fundamental question is: Is it worth it? And the answer is, 'Absolutely, it's worth it for a free Iraq to emerge'," said Bush, standing alongside visiting Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who is pulling his country's 1,650 troops out of the country to fulfill a campaign promise.

"I fully understand that," Bush said. "But he also said he's going to cooperate with the coalition in terms of further withdrawals. And I appreciate that."
Two years after the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, the coalition has been crumbling. Dozens of countries have pulled out or begun bringing home troops.

Italy's prime minister announced plans last month to start draw down his country's 3,000-strong contingent in Iraq in September. Poland is withdrawing about a third of its 2,400 troops. Last year, Spain's new Socialist government withdrew its 1,300 troops.

Ukraine sent some 1,650 troops to Iraq in a move widely seen as an attempt to smooth relations. However, the deployment was widely unpopular at home and Ukraine has begun withdrawing troops. Yushchenko said the pullout likely will be completed in the fall, fulfilling his campaign promise.