Bush: Iraq pullout a choice for a later president

Optimistic about victory
Bush said he’s confident of victory in Iraq. “I’m optimistic we’ll succeed. If not, I’d pull our troops out,” he said, warning that abandoning the nation would be a dangerous mistake.

“So failure in Iraq, which isn’t going to happen, would send all kinds of terrible signals to an enemy that wants to hurt us and people who are desperate to change the condition in the broader Middle East,” Bush said.

He said he agreed to U.S. talks with Iran to underscore his point that Tehran’s attempts to spread sectarian violence or provide support to Iraqi insurgents was unacceptable to the United States.

His opening remarks were designed to steel Americans for more fighting in Iraq and put an optimistic spin on the state of the U.S. economy.

“Productivity is strong. Inflation is contained. Household net worth is at an all-time high,” Bush said, crediting his administration’s policies.

'I didn't want war'
On Iraq, Bush bristled at a suggestion that he had wanted to wage war against that country since early in his presidency.

“I didn’t want war. To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong ... with all due respect,” he told a reporter. “No president wants war.” To those who say otherwise, “it’s simply not true,” Bush said.

Asked about former supporters who now oppose him and the war, Bush said he’s trying to win them over by “talking realistically to people” about the war and its importance to the nation.

“I can understand how Americans are worried about whether or not we can win,” Bush said, adding that most Americans want victory “but they’re concerned about whether or not we can win.”

Bush scoffed at a question suggesting he should reshuffle or shake up his White House staff to help raise his sagging poll standings. But he did hint that he might bring in an experienced Washington insider to work with a disgruntled Congress.

“I’m not going to announce it right now,” Bush said, adding that he’s satisfied with the staff he’s surrounded himself with.

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