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Bush tries to shape Iraq debate in election year

Posted on: Wednesday, 11 January 2006, 15:45 CST

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."

Source: REUTERS

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