President Bush defiantly responded on Tuesday to an American mother who had been gaining media attention by protesting the US occupation of Iraq, saying that the mother "did not represent the views of most Americans".
Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed last year while serving in Iraq, has called the US operation in Iraq a "senseless war", according to the AP, and that American soldiers should be brought home before more are killed.
Bush responded saying that if the US were to leave Iraq, America would be weakened.
Bush made the statements while on vacation in the state of Idaho.
On Monday, more than 200 people gathered near the president's vacation spot to protest the ongoing war in Iraq; the population of the town numbers 130.
Bush added in his statement to the press that he commended Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for having made the brave decision to leave the Gaza Strip, and that now a government must be established to respond to the needs of the Palestinian people.
He also said that he was getting updates about Iraq in phone calls from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and that she expressed optimism that Sunnis, who had thus far opposed certain elements of the constitution draft presently being debated, would accept it.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
