WASHINGTON - President Bush said Monday the Iraq
war is "straining the psyche of our country" but leaving now would be a
disaster.
Bush served notice at a news conference that he would not change course or
flinch from debate about the unpopular war as he campaigns for Republicans in
the fall congressional elections. In fact, he suggested that national security
and the economy should be the top political issues, and criticized the
Democrats' approach on both.
US President George W.
Bush responds to reporters as he conducts a press conference inside the
White House Conference Center across the street from the White House, in
Washington, DC. Bush called for urgent deployment of a peacekeeping force
in Lebanon to salvage a UN-brokered truce that halted 34 days of warfare
between Israel and Hezbollah.[AFP] |
Many Democrats want to leave Iraq "before the job is done," the president
said. "I can't tell you exactly when it's going to be done," he said, but "if we
ever give up the desire to help people who live in freedom, we will have lost
our soul as a nation, as far as I'm concerned."
Now in its fourth year, the war has taken a toll, more than 2,600 Americans
have died and many more Iraqis have been killed. Last month alone, about 3,500
Iraqis died violently, the highest monthly civilian toll so far. Bush's approval
rating has slumped to the lowest point of his presidency, and Republicans are
concerned that they could lose control of Congress because of voters'
unhappiness.
Bush said he was frustrated by the war at times.
"War is not a time of joy," he said. "These are challenging times, and
they're difficult times, and they're straining the psyche of our country. I
understand that. You know, nobody likes to see innocent people die. Nobody wants
to turn on their TV on a daily basis and see havoc wrought by terrorists."
But Bush said he agreed with Gen. John Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the
Middle East, that if "we leave before the mission is done, the terrorists will
follow us here." A failed Iraq would provide a safe haven for terrorists and
extremists and give them revenue from oil sales, Bush said.
In response, Democrats said it was time for a new direction and Bush should
begin redeploying troops this year.
"Our soldiers in Iraq should transition to a more limited mission focused on
counterterrorism, force protection of U.S. personnel and training and logistical
support of Iraqi security forces," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said, "Far from spreading freedom and
democracy in the Middle East, the Bush administration has watched while
extremists grow stronger, Iran goes nuclear, Iraq falls into civil war and oil
and gas prices skyrocket. Simply staying the course is unacceptable."
Bush said differences over Iraq provide "an interesting debate." "There's a
lot of people - good, decent people saying `withdraw now.' They're absolutely
wrong. ... We're not leaving, so long as I'm the president. That would be a huge
mistake."
"Leaving before the job is done would be a disaster."
Bush said he would not question the patriotism of someone who disagreed with
him, although Vice President Dick Cheney said recently the Democratic primary
election victory of anti-war candidate Ned Lamont over incumbent Sen. Joe
Lieberman, a defender of the war, might encourage "the al-Qaida types."
Bush opened his nearly hour-long news conference by calling for quick
deployment of an international force to help uphold the fragile cease-fire in
southern Lebanon. "The need is urgent," Bush said. He said the United States was
increasing humanitarian and reconstruction aid to more than $230 million.
European countries expected to provide the bulk of peacekeepers have delayed
committing troops. France disappointed allies by merely doubling its contingent
of 200.
The president also said the United States would seek a new U.N. resolution on
disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon but he sounded doubtful about achieving
results soon on the ground. "Hopefully, over time, Hezbollah will disarm," the
president said.
Bush also urged patience about the rebuilding of New Orleans and other gulf
communities ravaged by Hurricane Katrina a year ago. The federal government has
committed $110 billion to help. "I also want the people down there to understand
that it's going to take awhile to recover," the president said. "This was a huge
storm." He suggested the federal government had done its part and state and
local officials should move faster.
