Bush highlights importance of Middle East trip

President Bush told the nation Saturday that his upcoming trip to the Middle East is of great importance to the country, saying that U.S. national security hinges on what happens in that region.

{mosads}“As we saw on September the 11th, 2001, dangers that arise on the other side of the world can bring death and destruction to our own streets,” Bush said in his weekly radio address.

The president will depart Tuesday for a trip that will take him to Israel and the Palestinian Territories to promote the peace negotiations that were begun in Annapolis last year.

“This is difficult work. It will require tough decisions on complex questions,” Bush said. “But I am optimistic about the prospects. And I will make clear that America is deeply committed to helping both parties realize the historic vision we share: two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.”

Bush will also visit Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to discuss the peace process and “the importance of countering the aggressive ambitions of Iran.”

The president tied his trip to the region to the fight against terrorism, saying that extremists “are seeking new weapons and new operatives, so they can attack America again, overthrow governments in the Middle East, and impose their hateful vision on millions.”

“At its core, the battle unfolding in the Middle East is more than a clash of arms,” Bush argued. “It is an ideological struggle. On one side are the forces of terror and death. On the other are tens of millions of ordinary people who want a free and peaceful life for their children.

“The future of the Middle East depends on the outcome of this struggle, and so does the security of the United States,” the president stated.