Bush argues case for staying in Iraq

updated 7:51 a.m. ET Dec. 19, 2005

WASHINGTON - Democrats and Republicans applauded President Bush for acknowledging mistakes in Iraq and taking responsibility for failures, but critics said he still has not given Americans a realistic plan that will lead to the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Bush asserted Sunday night the United States is winning the war in Iraq and issued a plea to Americans divided by doubt: “Do not give in to despair and do not give up on this fight for freedom.”

In a prime-time address, the president acknowledged setbacks and sacrifice and cautioned there would be more violence and death in the months ahead. “Some look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude that the war is lost and not worth another dime or another day,” he said.

Struggling to build confidence in his policy, the president held out hopes for withdrawing American forces as Iraqi troops gain strength and experience.

But the language was not specific enough for Bush’s critics.

“While I appreciate the president’s increased candor, too much of the substance remains the same and the American people have still not heard what benchmarks we must meet along the way to know that progress is being made” and when the troops “can begin to come home,” said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

After the address, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said it was wrong for Bush “to attempt to silence his critics by calling them defeatists.” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., commended Bush for his “increased candor.” But he said Bush still had not told the nation exactly what had to be accomplished before U.S. troops could begin returning home.

'An ally of growing strength'
The president spoke from the Oval Office, where in March 2003, he announced the U.S.-led invasion. Nearly three years later, more than 2,150 U.S. soldiers have died, Bush’s popularity has plummeted and about half of Americans think the war was a mistake. Yet a strong majority oppose an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces.

The address came on the heels of four major speeches in which Bush acknowledged setbacks and surprises in the war and took responsibility for ordering the invasion on the basis of inaccurate intelligence. The admissions were part of a White House effort to address complaints that Bush lacked a solid strategy for the war and has been oblivious to the violence that Americans plainly see on television.

“I know that some of my decisions have led to terrible loss and not one of those decisions has been taken lightly,” he said. “I know that this war is controversial, yet being your president requires doing what I believe is right and accepting the consequences.”

Bush said last week’s voting for parliament will not bring an end to the violence in Iraq, where he has estimated that 30,000 civilians have died. But he said Iraq’s election, 6,000 miles away, “means that America has an ally of growing strength in the fight against terror.”

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., Armed Services Committee chairman, said Bush’s speech “was a high-water mark in his acknowledgment that mistakes have been made and that he has to accept his share of the blame.

“But he remains resolute, as he should, in continuing our help to the Iraqi people so that they can achieve a self-sufficient government and become a truly sovereign nation,” Warner added.

Domestic spying controversy
His speech came amid an uproar in Congress over whether he exceeded his powers in conducting the war on terror with a secret eavesdropping program and on a day that Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Baghdad and faced questions from U.S. soldiers about their mission.

Democrats were scornful even before the president spoke. Regarding a turnover to Iraqi troops, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said Bush “has to tell us how we’re going to get there. The people on the ground said there is one battalion that can fight alone.

“The last speech he gave, he used the word ‘victory’ 14 times. What does that mean?” asked Reid.

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