Bush seeks support against global terror

‘‘Since 9/11 the terrorists have taken lives — since the attacks on our nation that fateful day, the terrorists have attacked in Casablanca, Mombasa, Jerusalem, Amman, Riyadh, Baghdad, Karachi, New Delhi, Bali and Jakarta,’’ Bush said in a speech to the Air and Army National Guard Reservists in New Hampshire.

Referring to Iraq, he said, ‘‘our work in Iraq has been long, it is hard and it is not finished’’. ‘‘We will stay the course. We will complete our job. And beyond Iraq, the war on terror continues. There will be quick victory in this war,’’ Bush told about 1,500 Air National Guard and other service members and families at Pease Air Force Base in this port town.

‘‘After all the progress we have made against terror, there is a temptation to think the danger has passed. The danger hasn’t passed.’’ They responded with rousing cheers.

Speaking six months after American forces seized control of downtown Baghdad, Bush vigorously defended his decision to intervene in Iraq.

‘‘I was not about to leave the security of the American people in the hands of a madman,’’ he said. Presidential politics were clearly on Bush’s mind as he spoke at the air base and then delivered a nearly identical speech to about 600 business and community leaders in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Although New Hampshire is a staunchly Republican state, Bush won it by a narrow margin in 2000. Its January primary date — second on the presidential calendar — has brought Democratic candidates to the state to condemn the president and his policies.

In one sign of the political nature of his visit, Bush halted his motorcade at Caezario’s, a sub and pizza parlour in downtown Manchester, and spent 10 minutes inside schmoozing with the patrons. Asked if he was already campaigning, Bush deadpanned: ‘‘No, I’m going to sit down and having a slice of pizza.’’ Although reporters did not see him eat, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush took a slice of cheese pizza with him and lunched in his limousine.