Australian Leader Endorses Iraq Policy

Bush sidestepped a question about whether he will confront Chinese President Hu Jintao about reports that the Chinese military had hacked into a sensitive Pentagon computer system. Bush would not confirm the report and, without naming China, said he may raise the issue with leaders, adding, "I don't have the intelligence at my fingertips right now."

Bush said he would raise the issue of climate change with China and the other APEC countries, which together account for 60 percent of the world economy. Bush indicated that he hopes his discussion will help facilitate an environmental summit of the world's top industrialized and developing nations that he will host in Washington this month.

While the president was roundly criticized for his decision early in his administration not to join in the Kyoto Protocol, the U.N.-led effort that set binding goals for major industrial nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he now wants the United States to play a pivotal role on the issue.

Some allies see that as a major shift for Bush, as climate change has grown into a larger political issue both in the United States and abroad.

After their meeting, Bush and Howard -- who also opposed Kyoto -- released a joint statement pledging to work together to combat climate change.

"I'm looking forward to reminding people that I take the climate change issue seriously; that we recognize that there needs to be international -- an international accord to get people at the table who are the major emitters to set a goal," Bush said.

Bush began his work here with the meeting with Howard, a close ally who supported the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan from the beginning. Bush has forged a close relationship with Howard, whom he has called a "man of steel" for his resolve in backing U.S. military efforts.

But now the contingent of Australian combat troops has become an issue in Howard's reelection campaign. Opposition leader Kevin Rudd, who is leading in the polls before a fall vote, has talked about pulling combat troops out of Iraq.

Later Wednesday, Bush and Howard had lunch with Australian troops at the Garden Island Naval Installation near Sydney before more scheduled meetings and a dinner. Bush is scheduled to meet with Rudd on Thursday.

"So the first thing I'm going to do is explain to him my views about this -- the world in which we live," Bush said of his upcoming meeting with Rudd. "I'll remind him that, as far as I'm concerned, that leaving Iraq before the job is done will cause an enemy that attacked us before to become emboldened."