BUSH OFFERS EMPTY RHETORIC

Bush puts pressure on Palestinians after pullout.

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush put pressure on the Palestinians on Saturday to respond to the Israeli pullout from Gaza and portions of the West Bank by cracking down on terrorism.

“Now that Israel has withdrawn, the way forward is clear. The Palestinians must show the world that they will fight terrorism and govern in a peaceful way,” Bush said.

“We demand an end to terrorism and violence in every form because we know that progress depends on ending terror,” Bush added in his weekly radio address.......

He stopped short of specifically calling on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to dismantle Hamas and other groups, and Palestinian officials in Washington said the White House understood Abbas and his security forces would need more time to prepare for any push to disarm the militants.