Bush Says Iraq Mission Vital to Security

President Bush says Iraq is making steady progress establishing its economy, basic services and a democratic system and that should improve security in this country and the Middle East.

“We’re keeping our word to the Iraqi people by helping them to make their country an example of democracy and prosperity throughout the region,” Bush said in his weekly radio address Saturday. “This long-term undertaking is vital to peace in the region and to the security of the United States.”

After giving his report on Iraq 100 days after he declared the end of major combat operations, the president was turning his attention to re-election politics.

Bush and his top political adviser, Karl Rove, planned to greet about 350 people on Saturday who had raised $50,000 for the 2004 campaign by June 30. The barbecue hosted by Stan and Kathy Hickey at the nearby Hickey Broken Spoke Ranch is a way to thank top fund-raisers for their work.

Two groups that monitor fund-raising activities, Public Citizen and Texans for Justice, said they would show up in Crawford to complain about the Bush campaign’s fund-raising tactics.

The president’s fund-raising program is “a bundling operation that has skirted and sidetracked the spirit of campaign finance laws,” said Craig McDonald, executive director of Texans for Justice.

While individuals are limited to $2,000 contributions apiece, top fund-raisers for the Bush campaign, called Rangers and Pioneers, gather up to $100,000, $200,000 or more from many sources.

McDonald said these fund-raisers gain additional clout with the administration by their efforts – and the campaign should provide more information about the total amount they collect.

Bush campaign officials said they are very open about donors.

“The president’s campaign in 2000 set a standard for disclosure in political fund raising and the campaign will again in 2004,” said Dan Ronayne, a campaign spokesman. “The president’s supporters are expressing their appreciation for his leadership and his compassionate conservative agenda.”

In his radio address on Iraq, Bush pointed to significant progress on several fronts – establishment of a police force, reopening of banks, schools and hospitals, and production of oil.

“Life is returning to normal for the Iraqi people,” he said. “Hospitals and universities have opened, and in many places water and other utility services are reaching prewar levels.”

Bush said the Iraqi people are moving steadily toward democratic government.

“There is difficult and dangerous work ahead that will require time and patience,” he said. “Yet all Americans can by proud of what our military and provisional authorities have achieved in Iraq.”

Several Democratic presidential candidates were critical of Bush’s Iraq policy. Florida Sen. Bob Graham said Bush “lost focus on the true terrorist threat of al-Qaida.” North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said removing Saddam Hussein as leader of Iraq “was the right thing to do,” but despite repeated warnings, the administration “went into Iraq without a clear plan for what was to come after the war.”

At least 55 U.S. troops have been killed in combat since Bush declared major hostilities over May 1. Four American soldiers were reported wounded Saturday, two in the northern city of Kirkuk and two in Baghdad, in attacks on their patrols.