Bush tries to shape Iraq debate in election year

By Patricia Wilson

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Reuters) – President George W. Bush
on Wednesday tried to shape election-year debate on the Iraq
war by warning critics their rhetoric could embolden the enemy
and weaken the morale of U.S. troops.

Preparing for a tough campaign against Democrats in the
run-up to congressional elections in November when he will try
to keep the U.S. Congress in the hands of his Republican Party,
Bush acknowledged his decision to invade Iraq almost three
years ago was not universally popular.

“I can understand folks who say, ‘I wish you hadn’t done
that,”‘ he said, adding later, “I expect there to be an honest
debate about Iraq … people can help by making sure the tone
of this debate is respectful and is mindful about what messages
out of the country can do for morale of our troops.”

He said he welcomed dissenting voices, but “what I don’t
like is when somebody said he lied or they’re in there for oil
or he’s doing it only because of Israel.”

A few Democrats have called for a quick withdrawal of U.S.
troops from Iraq but the party remains divided over how to move
ahead. Some critics on the political fringes have raised the
issues of oil and Israel.

Asked by a 7-year-old in the audience at the Louisville
Convention Center how people could help in the war on
terrorism, Bush replied, “One way people can help as we’re
coming down the pike in the 2006 elections is remember the
effect that rhetoric can have on our troops in harm’s way and
the effect that rhetoric can have in emboldening or weakening
an enemy.”

SEEKING TO CONVINCE SKEPTICS

Bush is trying to convince skeptical Americans his plan for
Iraq will work even as the U.S. death toll mounts. His remarks
came as violence surged in Iraq where more than 200 Iraqis and
16 U.S. troops have died in the past week.

“The goal is victory, nothing short of victory,” he
declared in Kentucky where he unexpectedly answered questions
on topics ranging from the war to education, immigration and
domestic spying.

Bush said he was confident of success in Iraq but admitted
it was tough going.

“Whether you agree with me or not, they’re not going to
shake my will. We’re doing the right thing.”

The 400 community leaders, small-business owners and others
were invited to listen to Bush, but White House spokesman Scott
McClellan said their questions were not screened in advance.
Nevertheless, none of them criticized the president.

During a meeting at the White House last week with
secretaries of state and defense from previous Republican and
Democratic administrations, Bush was urged to talk to Americans
in more detail and with more candor about his Iraq strategy in
order to build support at home.

Bush appeared in the district of Republican Rep. Anne
Northup whose likely Democratic opponent will be Andrew Horne,
a lawyer and Marine reservist who served two tours in Iraq.

He questioned Bush’s criticism of war opponents.

“On issues of war, on issues of the welfare of our troops,
if we are not raising the questions, who will?” Horne told
reporters in a conference call organized by Democrats. “We know
that the nature of the military, the Marines, soldiers and
sailors on the ground, they can’t really raise these issues, so
we need to do it for them.

In the campaign-style meeting, Bush again defended a
domestic eavesdropping program he authorized after the
September 11 attacks as limited in nature and constitutional.
He said he did not object to congressional hearings on the
matter so long as they “don’t tell the enemy what we’re doing.”