United States President George W Bush has brushed aside the suggestion that US troops should be sent to Pakistan to find al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, arguing that it was not possible unless Islamabad invited them to do so.
"First of all, Pakistan is a sovereign nation. For us to send thousands of troops into a sovereign nation, we've got to be invited by the government of Pakistan.
"Secondly, the best way to find somebody who is hiding is to enhance your intelligence and to spend the resources necessary to do that. And then when you find him, you bring him to justice," Bush said on Friday.
The US president also rejected the charge that his administration has not kept its eye focused on bin Laden.
"There is an urban myth about how this administration hasn't stayed focused on Osama bin Laden. Forget it. It's convenient throw-away lines. We have been on the hunt, and we'll stay on the hunt until we bring him to justice. And we're doing it in a smart fashion," Bush said, adding that he looked forward to talking to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf when he visits Washington.
© 2025