Bush says Iraq policy aims to protect rights of religious minorities

Published: 2008-04-16

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- President George W. Bush said in an interview broadcast April 11 on EWTN that his policy on Iraq is guided in large part by the need to protect the rights of minorities, including religious minorities, so that a civil society can emerge. "I commit our troops to helping the Iraqis provide safety for all innocent Iraqis," Bush told host Raymond Arroyo in the interview conducted April 8. "You got to understand that what you're witnessing is not just an assault on innocent Christians. You are witnessing (an) assault on innocent people of all faiths by a group of cold-blooded killers who want to drive the United States out of the Middle East because they hate free societies," the president said. Despite growing support across the country to begin withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq, Bush pledged to keep troops in the country as long as necessary.

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