WASHINGTON, Jan 31: President George Bush has said that since 9/11 President Pervez Musharraf has made "many of the choices" to reform his country on his own and not under US pressure.

In a wide-ranging interview to C-Span television channel broadcast late on Sunday night, Mr Bush said his goal was to advance the cause of freedom and democracy by "fashioning policy that constantly speaks to the reformers and those who want to be free."

The United States, he said, can also advance this cause "by constantly reminding (these) leaders about the importance of the relationship" with the world's only superpower.

Asked had somebody ever refused to change its policy for the US forcing Washington to walk away from such an ally, Mr Bush said: "Well, it never has happened yet. For example, I think about Pakistan. That's a country that's come a long way."

Remembering Pakistan's decision to abandon its support to the Taliban after the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and join the US-led coalition against terror, Mr Bush said: "President Musharraf has shown great leadership. He had made many of the choices himself." But Mr Bush also indicated that there were occasions when he had to talk to President Musharraf to remind him of the need to change some of his policies, particularly Pakistan's education policy.

"But I can remember talking to him early on in my presidency about the need for good education policy to help counteract some of the propaganda that was being taught in some of his schools," said Mr Bush.

President Musharraf, he said, agreed and introduced Mr Bush to the then education minister, Zubaida Jalal. "We have since spent some money to help with the curriculum that is - well, really help the children of Pakistan," said the US president.

Mr Bush acknowledged that the US president has to be realistic "about the strides being made in a certain society, based upon its histories and traditions." But in every meeting he holds with world leaders like President Musharraf, he's "constantly talking about the need to move forward with a reform agenda toward freedom."

Mr Bush promised that in his second term he would combine idealism with realism in promoting his stated goals, arguing that "societies don't change on a dime." In this long interview, Mr Bush sought to assuage fears that his second term will be marked by an aggressive push to promote American ideals and foreign policy goals.

"I think you can be an idealist and a realist at the same time," he said. "And we have a war to fight and win. It's a very different kind of war." In the C-Span interview, Mr Bush amplified that message, stressing that he was determined to inject into his strategy abroad a healthy dose of real politik and maintain partnerships and alliances forged with various countries in the course of the war on terror.