http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20040918/ap_on_el_pr/bushBush will play host to Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi at the White House next week after two days of heavy diplomacy at the United Nations. Allawi also will address Congress.
At a time of surging violence in Iraq, Allawi can help Bush put a human face on the American effort there.
"I'm looking forward to the American people hearing him," Bush said at a rally Friday in Charlotte, N.C. "It's important that we hear from someone there on the ground who believes that people want to be free, (who) believes that the people of Iraq really want to be free."
Bush will sit down with Allawi in the White House on Thursday, to be followed by questions from reporters. Bush has not answered questions publicly since he talked to reporters at his Texas ranch on Aug. 23.