WASHINGTON, March 13 (UPI) -- While chiding Israel's military invasion of the Palestinian territories as "not helpful" to Middle East peace, President Bush on Wednesday reaffirmed his faith progress can be made by special envoy retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni.
"Frankly it's not helpful what the Israelis have recently done in order to create conditions for peace," Bush said.
"I understand someone trying to defend themselves and to fight terror," he said. "But the recent actions aren't helpful."
The comments represent Bush's firmest criticism of Israeli policy since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, though Secretary of State Colin Powell has used stronger language recently.
Israel conducted a major military incursion into Palestinian territories beginning Tuesday, killing 31 Palestinians.
The president said, "I certainly hope that Prime Minister (Ariel) Sharon is concerned about the loss of innocent life -- I certainly am. It breaks my heart, and I know it breaks the heart of a lot people around the world to see young children lose their life as a result of violence, young children on both sides of this issue."
The president made his remarks in a wide-ranging 43 minute, unscheduled news conference, telling reporters that if "I didn't think he (Zinni) could make progress" in the peace process, "I wouldn't have sent him." This is the first extensive news conference the president has had in five months.
Bush said he believes there are signs of change in the Middle East that might be a harbinger that the two main peace initiatives, the Tenet Plan, named for Central Intelligence Agency director George Tenet and the Mitchell Plan, named for former Democratic Majority Leader George Mitchell, can move forward.
"We had a lot of phone conversations with people in the Middle East which led us to believe that there is a chance to create -- to get into Tenet, or at least create the conditions to get into Tenet. And I've taken that chance."
He said that a recent plan put forward by Saudi Arabia, which suggested that Arab states would recognize Israel's right to exist, was an important step if it could be nurtured.
"That's what I thought was very important from the Saudi declaration... that's why we seized on it."
The president conducted the impromptu news conference in the White House briefing room and appeared relaxed and in good spirits as he answered reporters questions on virtually every major issue in Washington for the one of the longest sessions he has had since taking office.
At the end, the president said he had "enjoyed this press conference. I hope you did as well," which brought laughter from the news reporters.
On nuclear weapons, the president said he hoped to sign a nuclear reduction agreement with the Russians during his trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg in May.
Both countries have said they will cut their strategic nuclear arsenals to 1700 to 2200 warheads, but haven't been able to agree on whether weapons should be destroyed or put into storage.
"I think the most important thing, though, is verification, to make sure whatever decision is made, that there is open verification so as to develop a level of trust," Bush said.
The president said he did not find inconsistencies in his administration's avowed policy to reduce nuclear weapons and the recent Defense Department nuclear review which developed contingency plans for using nuclear weapons against seven nations -- Russia, China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya and Syria. The Pentagon is also considering a new generation of lower yield nuclear weapons.
Bush said the nuclear review is not new, "it's gone on in previous administrations. Second the reason we have a nuclear arsenal that I hope is modern, upgraded and can work is to deter any attack on America. The reason one has a nuclear arsenal is deterrence."
Bush used the news conference to continue his warnings to Iraq, but would not commit himself on whether the U.S. goal is just to force Saddam Hussein to allow unfettered inspections for weapons of mass destruction or to replace the regime in Baghdad. "He's a problem and we're going to deal with him," was all the president said.
Bush said the United States will consult with its allies in the Middle East and other nations about what it plans to do in Iraq and said that was a central assignment of Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to the region.
Cheney heads from Egypt Wednesday to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Bush reiterated his warning to Americans that the war on terror would take a long time, but reassured the nation that is was unlikely that there would be a draft because young Americans are volunteering for the armed services.
Bush again tried to diminish the importance of establishing the fate of Osama bin Laden. "I know the man's on the run, if he's alive at all... the idea of focusing on one person--really indicates to me people don't understand the scope of the mission. Terror is bigger than one person."
Bush said bin Laden has been "marginalized" and his "host government has been destroyed."
When asked whether he saw deployment of U.S. troops to train counter-terrorist forces in the Philippines and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia as a move that could lead to a Vietnam War-type entanglement, Bush said he saw the war on terror more like World War II where a coalition of nations defeated the Axis powers.
