Naseer Al-Nahr, Arab News

BAGHDAD, 6 May 2004 — US President George W. Bush stopped short of apologizing as he told a skeptical Arab world yesterday that the actions of soldiers who mistreated Iraqi prisoners “don’t represent America” and pledged that “justice will be served.”

The Arabs were generally unimpressed as Bush called the abuse “abhorrent”. “This is a serious matter, a matter that reflects badly on our country,” Bush conceded in an interview with Al-Arabiya, a popular Arabic station. But he added: “This is a free country. We do not tolerate this kind of abuses.”

Bush gave interviews to two Arabic television stations, hoping to limit damage from the prisoner-abuse scandal that has torn at the United States’ already weakened image in the region. But his message was a hard sell, and many watching said Bush’s words did little to change their opinions.

“Bush had a whole year to fulfill his promises regarding bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq,” said Mouwaddaq Fadhil, a 55-year-old taxi driver in Baghdad.

Al-Arabiya, popular throughout the Arab world, first aired most of the interview, unedited, in English with no subtitles. An hour later, it aired the full interview dubbed into Arabic. Bush also gave an interview to Al-Hurra. The people of Iraq “must understand that what took place in that prison does not represent the America that I know,” Bush told Al-Hurra.

“The America I know is a compassionate country that believes in freedom. The America I know cares about every individual. The America I know has sent troops into Iraq to promote freedom, good honorable citizens that are helping Iraqis every day,” he told Al-Hurra. Few people watch Al-Hurra, but the interview with Al-Arabiya was greeted by many with disgust.

“The apology will not change anything. It does not hold,” said Abdel Gawad Ahmed, a lawyer in Cairo watching the interview at his union headquarters. “Is it an apology for the victims we see every day? Or for violating international conventions? Will this apology do me any good?”

Added Sari Mouwaffaq, a Baghdad mechanic: “Bush’s statements today will not restore the dignity which the tortured detainees lost. Bush’s apology, or his attempt to find excuses, has no value to us.”

Bush did not specifically apologize for the mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Gharib prison near Baghdad. But, he said: “The actions of these few people do not reflect the hearts of the American people.”

Bush told Al-Arabiya: “The practices that took place in that prison are abhorrent and they don’t represent America. They represent the actions of a few people.” “We will find the truth. We will fully investigate,” Bush said. “The world will see the investigation and justice will be served.”