Bush Counsels Iraqi Leaders on Their ‘Awesome’ Duties

President Bush spoke by telephone Sunday with the top three leaders of Iraq’s newly formed government, reminding them of the need “to unite their country.”

Expressing optimism that they could achieve the goal -- despite recent violence that had suggested the country was on the verge of civil war -- Bush said he told the leaders that they had “awesome” responsibilities to improve the lives of all Iraqis, “regardless of their religious status and nature,” and “to defeat the terrorists.”

Bush’s calls came a day after Iraq’s parliament broke a four-month political logjam by endorsing a Shiite Muslim political activist and former exile, Jawad Maliki, as prime minister, and dividing up other top posts among Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish parties.

Bush said he spoke first with incumbent President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd; then with Mahmoud Mashadani, a Sunni Arab elected speaker of parliament; and finally with Maliki.

He described the calls in remarks at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, where he attended a morning religious service and had lunch with troops.

Later, Bush met for an hour with Gerald R. Ford at the 92-year-old former president’s home in Rancho Mirage.

He then had dinner with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and four other Southern California mayors: Jerry Sanders of San Diego, Curt Pringle of Anaheim, Beverly O’Neill of Long Beach and Roosevelt Dorn of Inglewood. Sanders said education, immigration, domestic security and the safety of ports were among the topics discussed.

At the Marine base, Bush called the Iraqi political agreement an important step, adding, “The only way we can lose in Iraq is if we lose our nerve.

“And I’m not losing my nerve, and I know that the United States Marine Corps will not lose their nerve either,” he said to applause.

It was a declaration Bush has made often but one that has taken on new meaning because of recent complaints from former military leaders about how the war has been conducted and questions from several fronts about the prospects for success.

“Democracy will be a major blow for the terrorists who want to do us harm. Democracy in Iraq will deny them safe haven,” Bush said.

“Democracy in Iraq will set a powerful example for people in a part of the world who are desperate for freedom.”

Bush spoke to the Marines on the third day of a four-day visit to California, a rare extended visit to a state that has not shown much political affection for him.

He arrived in San Jose on Friday, spent Saturday in Napa Valley and West Sacramento, and is scheduled to arrive today in Irvine, where he is expected to speak about immigration.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Sunday that Bush would push Congress to overcome its impasse on immigration legislation, including a guest worker program the president favors but which has drawn sharp opposition, particularly in Orange County.

Bush began his day with a mountain-bike ride near Rancho Mirage before traveling to the Marine base, where he attended a nondenominational service at Christ Chapel, a sandstone building steps from a helicopter landing zone.

At the mess hall, Bush removed his suit jacket and tie, rolled up his sleeves, shook hands and, with tray in hand, walked the food line, loading his plate with gravy-smothered meat, mashed potatoes, beans and salad.

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Times staff writer Stuart Pfeifer contributed to this report.