CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush, mired in criticism about pre-September 11 intelligence lapses and struggling to squelch a surge of violence in Iraq, will come under intense pressure this week when he meets with foreign leaders about the stalled Middle East peace process.
Hoping to turn the topic — and the headlines — to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his role as a peace broker, the president also will seek the help of two prominent Arab leaders in dealing with Iraq.
“The United States has embarked on a policy which involves major change in the Arab world,” said Stephen P. Cohen, president of the Institute for Middle East Peace and Development. “We need to have partnerships with the locals who can help us make that leap between our own situation and the ones in the countries we are trying to change.”
Beginning today with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whom many Middle East analysts see as the key to the success of the U.S.-backed “road map” to peace, the president will try to find a middle ground that will spur action by Arab leaders and assuage Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
The Bush administration has stood behind Mr. Sharon throughout his conflict with the Palestinians, but moderate Arabs, such as Mr. Mubarak and King Abdullah II of Jordan, who meets with Mr. Bush on April 21, are leery of the Israeli prime minister’s proposal to withdraw unilaterally from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank.
Mr. Mubarak also could be crucial to convincing Arabs in the region that the United States is trying to bring freedom and democracy to Iraq.
“Mubarak will probably be suggesting to the United States that it’s getting off course in a dangerous way in Iraq and that there ought to be a much stronger multilateral and international role, especially the United Nations,” said Hussein Ibish, communications director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
“There’s deep suspicion and anxiety about America’s intentions in Iraq. Those anxieties are not being assuaged given some of the tactics the United States is now employing,” Mr. Ibish said.
Mr. Bush hosts Mr. Sharon at the White House on Wednesday and British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday. Discussion among all the leaders will focus on two issues: Iraq and the Middle East.
Mr. Sharon likely will press Mr. Bush for a commitment on his plan for a partial withdrawal from the Palestinian territories.
“Sharon is looking for is a formal letter of assurance from the United States that commits to support of his unilateral plan,” Mr. Ibish said.
Days later, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath will visit the United States and is expected to meet with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
Mr. Blair, who is expected to run for re-election in a year, faces difficulties similar to those plaguing Mr. Bush. The British prime minister’s government reportedly is opposed to the hard-line U.S. response to an extremist cleric whose militiamen are responsible for an upsurge of violence in Iraq.
Mr. Blair thinks “taking out” Sheik Muqtada al-Sadr would only inflame passions among his followers, but Washington has ignored that view, the Mail on Sunday reported in London.
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