Ulan Bator, Mongolia ? In the wake of congressional unrest over his war policies, President Bush thanked Mongolia today for standing with him in Iraq and compared the struggle against Islamic radicalism to this country’s battle against communism.

“Free people did not falter in the Cold War, and free people will not falter in the war on terror,” the president said.

Bush said Mongolia has stood with the United States as “brothers in the cause of freedom.” He called Mongolians’ success in driving communist leaders from power 15 years ago an example for the world.

“Like the ideology of communism, the ideology of Islamic radicalism is destined to fail – because the will to power is no match for the universal desire to live in freedom,” Bush said.

Bush’s four-hour stop in this poor and sparsely populated nation was the first by an American president. The brief visit was a reward for Mongolia’s pursuit of democracy and support for the fight against terrorism.

Bush brought up the growing Iraq debate when he met reporters after inconclusive talks with President Hu Jintao about friction in U.S.-China relations. He expected a warmer welcome in Mongolia, which has been eager for closer military relations with the United States and has provided about 120 Mongolian soldiers in Iraq.

The number is small, but White House officials are quick to point out that, per capita, only two other countries – the United Kingdom and Denmark – have sent more of their soldiers to Iraq.

Mongolia was the last scheduled stop during Bush’s weeklong visit to Asia, which included visits to Japan, South Korea and China. He returns to Washington tonight.