THE father of a North Wales soldier killed in Iraq says he would like to meet President Bush to "give him a piece of my mind". Reg Keys' son Thomas was one of six soldiers killed when their military police platoon was ambushed in June. Mr Bush, due to visit the UK, plans to meet relatives of British soldiers killed in Iraq to tell them their loved ones died for a "noble cause". Mr Keys, of Bala, said: "This visit rubs salt in the wounds. "I would like to meet President Bush and give him a piece of my mind. I have already told Prime Minister Blair that his actions led to Thomas' death and I would say the same to George Bush." During his three-day state visit next week, the President will offer them the sympathy "of the American people and the prayers of the President". And he will tell them "that their loved ones did not die in vain". Mr Bush said yesterday he had two messages for the families. "One, the prayers of the American people and the prayers of the President are with them, as they suffer. "Secondly, that I will tell them that their loved ones did not die vain. The actions we have taken will make the world more secure and the world more peaceful in the long run." He added: "I view this as an historic moment and I will share with or them - just like I share with our own families here - a deep grief, my sorrow for the sacrifice, but the fact that what is taking place today is a noble cause." The President revealed he is in constant touch with Mr Blair as they seek to deal with the security situation in Iraq. "I admire him as a strong leader. He tells you what he thinks and he does what he says he's going to do. And that's about as high a compliment as I can pay a fellow leader," he said. He said they discuss the way forward on a "weekly" basis and are anxious to hand Iraq back to its people. Following a round of extensive consultations in Washington with Iraq's civilian administrator Paul Bremer, the President hinted that the coalition wished to speed-up that handover process. He said: "We want the Iraqis to understand that we believe they're plenty capable of running their own country. "See, we're of the school of thought, this administration, and Tony is the same way - if I could put words in his mouth - that believe the Iraqi people are plenty capable of running a peaceful country. And, therefore, the sooner the people ... realise that, I think the more comfortable they'll be with their future. "And the sooner that sovereignty is handed over in a way commensurate with a stable country, the better off it is." | 
