Bush proposes corps to aid new democracies
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-19 08:33

WASHINGTON - US President Bush, seeking to put U.S. government muscle behind a promise to support young democracies, said Wednesday the administration is creating a special corps of federal workers that can quickly deploy to help governments in crisis.

U.S. President George W. Bush delivers remarks at the International Republican Institute Dinner in Washington, May 18, 2005. [Reuters]

Citing the difficulty in establishing the U.S.-run occupation government in Iraq after Saddam Hussein's ouster, Bush is proposing $100 million next year for a new conflict response fund and another $24 million for a new Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization in the State Department. That office will coordinate U.S. government efforts to support emerging democracies, with the new Active Response Corps of foreign and civil service officers as a crucial tool, Bush said.

"This new corps will be on call — ready to get programs running on the ground in days and weeks instead of months and years," Bush said, according to remarks prepared for delivery to the International Republican Institute, a federally funded group that promotes democracy worldwide. "If a crisis emerges and assistance is needed, America will be ready."

The remarks, in which Bush said the United States is ramping up its ability to aid emerging democracies, follows a European tour aimed at encouraging nations along the path to greater freedoms and transparency.

Bush cited a series of revolutions over the past 18 months in ex-Soviet republics and across the Middle East: the Rose in Georgia, Orange in Ukraine, Purple in Iraq, Tulip in Kyrgyzstan and Cedar in Lebanon.

"These are only the beginning," he said. "We are seeing the rise of a new generation whose hearts burn for freedom — and they will have it."

He aimed to encourage nations in the hard, often-disappointing times that follow elections.

What must follow, Bush said, is the building of strong institutions, such as a vibrant press, independent judiciary, peaceful opposition and free economy, to support the new freedoms. Citing the example of America, which progressed to a mature democracy through fits and starts over many decades, Bush said those institutions can be a long time in coming.

"When people risk everything to vote, it can raise expectations that their lives will improve immediately," the president said. "Almost every new democracy has gone through a period of challenge and confusion."

He promised U.S. assistance on a number of fronts.

The administration has spent $4.6 billion over more than four years supporting democratic change, and will increasingly focus future funding on programs to help new democracies after elections are over.

Bush also promised that military forces will be rebalanced with an eye toward making them "more effective in helping societies transition from war and despotism to freedom and democracy," in part by adding military police and civil affairs specialists.

"Those who claim their liberty will have an unwavering ally in the United States," Bush said.

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