Thursday, January 27 2005 13:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: US President George W Bush yesterday (Jan 26, 2005) scaled back his sweeping pledge last week to combat tyranny worldwide, acknowledging that Washington would have to combine principle with pragmatism in its foreign policy.

Under persistent questioning about his inaugural address, Bush made it clear that Washington would balance US interests and ideals in dealing with countries such as Russia, China and Saudi Arabia.

"I don't think foreign policy is an either/or proposition," he told a White House news conference. "I think it is possible, when you're a nation like the United States, to be able to achieve both objectives - one objective the practical objective of dealing, for example, ... with North Korea," he said, referring to efforts to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions.

Bush's remarks contrasted with his speech swearing to promote democracy across the globe and putting "every ruler and every nation" on notice that this would be a test of their relations with the United States.

The speech raised questions about whether Washington was shifting gears and would go after authoritarian but friendly regimes as well as foes after Bush's first term, marked by terror strikes and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"There won't be instant democracy," he told reporters. "I fully understand developing a democratic society and adhering to the traditions and customs of other nations will be a work in process."