Bush Embarks to APEC Summit in Australia

U.S. President George Bush set off Monday for an annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Australia with a side-trip to Iraq.

After a brief stop west of Baghdad, Bush continued on to Sydney, where he was to meet with an ally in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, the Washington Times reported.

Bush is also scheduled to meet with Howard’s poll-dominating opponent, Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd, who has called for a withdrawal of Australia’s 1,400 troops from Iraq.

I’ll remind him that as far as I’m concerned, that leaving Iraq before the job is done will cause an enemy that attacked us before to become emboldened, Bush said.

Bush reportedly also wants to address China’s growing clout in the region, the Times said. Sources said he will also pressure South Korea, Japan, Russia and China to maintain opposition to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.