综合一区欧美国产,99国产麻豆免费精品,九九精品黄色录像,亚洲激情青青草,久久亚洲熟妇熟,中文字幕av在线播放,国产一区二区卡,九九久久国产精品,久久精品视频免费

   

Bush defiantly defends war in Iraq

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-20 15:59

WASHINGTON -- President Bush defiantly defended the Iraq war Wednesday as US troops began a sixth year of combat in the long and costly conflict that has dominated his presidency. Bush conceded the war has been harder and more expensive than anticipated but insisted it has all been necessary to keep Americans safe.

Protesters marked the anniversary of the US invasion with demonstrations near the White House and in other cities, though they seemed to lack the fervor of those that preceded the war.


US President George W. Bush speaks on the global war on terrorism at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Bush on Wednesday defended the launch of the war against Iraq five years ago, vowing no retreat as he promised US forces would triumph over Iraqi insurgents. [Agencies]

Bush, in a speech at the Pentagon, offered some of his boldest assessments of progress and said the war's legacy is absolute: "The world is better, and the United States of America is safer."

A war-weary country isn't nearly so convinced.

The majority of people think the invasion was a mistake, polls show. However, Americans are more split about how the war is going and when US troops should be pulled home, as reduced violence in Iraq has begun to influence the public view.

Related readings:
 Bush's approval rating lowest on Iraq war anniversary
 
At least 160 arrested in US antiwar protests
 Five years on, Bush again talks of Iraq victory
 Bush says Iraq war was worth it
 US protesters mark Iraq war anniversary
 Clinton: "We cannot win" Iraq war

Almost 4,000 US military members have died, and more than 29,000 have been wounded. The cost is $500 billion and counting.

"No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure," Bush said. "But those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq."

The US has about 158,000 troops in Iraq, and that number is expected to drop to 140,000 by summer. But Bush signaled anew that he will not pull more troops home as long as his commanders worry that doing so will imperil recently improved conditions in Iraq.

"Having come so far, and achieved so much, we're not going to let this happen," Bush said.

Demonstrators converged in the nation's capital, other big cities like Miami and San Francisco, and in smaller towns in Vermont and Ohio to urge an end to the war. Police arrested more than 30 people who blocked the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington, and protesters blocked downtown intersections several times.

   1 2   


Top World News  
Today's Top News  
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
西乌珠穆沁旗| 铁岭县| 阜城县| 壤塘县| 石家庄市| 闵行区| 昌邑市| 安溪县| 沽源县| 罗江县| 河曲县| 林州市| 伊吾县| 江阴市| 金溪县| 许昌市| 鹿邑县| 宣恩县| 咸丰县| 梁山县| 卢氏县| 上栗县| 拜泉县| 佛学| 吴忠市| 堆龙德庆县| 昂仁县| 溧水县| 宝坻区| 宜良县| 玉门市| 龙口市| 和田市| 漳浦县| 静乐县| 云霄县| 湖口县| 金门县| 全椒县| 瑞昌市| 卢湾区|