Bush Says Blair "understands Stakes" In Iraq

JANESVILLE, Wisconsin, Sept 24 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said he had spoken by telephone with British Prime Minister Tony Blair Friday and that they shared an unyielding approach to extremists in war-torn Iraq.
"He sees what's happening around the world. He knows, like I know, that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. We must whip the terrorists in Iraq so we don't have to face them here at home," Bush said at a campaign rally here.
Those comments came amid fears for the fate of British engineer Kenneth Bigley, 62, whom extremists abducted of Baghdad on September 16 along with two US colleagues, both of whom have already been beheaded.
"I talked to Prime Minister Tony Blair this morning, had a great talk with him. He's a good, strong leader," Bush told supporters at a campaign rally six weeks before the November 2 US election.
"(Iraqi) Prime Minister (Iyad) Allawi says that, Tony Blair says that, I say that because I understand the stakes for America. And Tony understands the stakes for Great Britain and the free world," said the US president.