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Bush braces U.S. for sacrifice as protesters gather

Posted on: Saturday, 27 August 2005, 09:13 CDT

By Jeremy Pelofsky

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, assailed by sagging poll numbers and criticism from anti-war protesters camped outside his ranch, called on Saturday for Americans to show resolve and brace for additional sacrifice in Iraq.

Bush, who personally intervened this week with a key Shi'ite leader in a bid to broker a deal on Iraq's constitution, said Iraqis were "making the tough choices and compromises necessary for a free and peaceful future."

With almost 1,900 U.S. troops dead in the Iraq conflict, Bush is under mounting pressure from critics to finish training a new Iraqi security force and bring the soldiers home.

Bush supporters and anti-war protesters, including relatives of soldiers who died in Iraq, were slated to face off this weekend with rallies near the president's 1,600-acre (648-hectare) Crawford ranch, where he has been spending much of August on vacation.

Cindy Sheehan, whose son died in Iraq in April 2004, has been holding a vigil outside the ranch seeking another meeting with him to press for the quick withdrawal of U.S. troops. She will be countered by other soldiers' families who back the U.S. action in Iraq.

In his weekly radio address, Bush acknowledged the job for U.S. soldiers was not yet done.

"Our efforts in Iraq and the broader Middle East will require more time, more sacrifice and continued resolve," he said.

Bush has said withdrawing now would only embolden insurgents who have sought to derail the drafting of an interim constitution.

"And when Iraqi forces can defend their freedom by taking more and more of the fight to the enemy, our troops will come home with the honor they have earned," he said.

Bush praised the efforts of Iraqi leaders to agree on principles to guide their country's future, despite religious and other divisions.

"What is important is that Iraqis are now addressing these issues through debate and discussion -- not at the barrel of a gun," he said.

Bush's message was part of renewed push to counter critics of his Iraq war policy and boost his standing in the polls.

The latest Gallup survey showed that just two in five Americans approved of the job he was doing while 56 percent disapproved of his performance.

Compared to other post-World War Two presidents at this point in their second term, only Richard Nixon had a lower job approval rating and he was in the midst of the Watergate scandal, Gallup said. The others were all above 50 percent.

Source: REUTERS

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