US President George W. Bush vowed on Saturday that Americans would overcome the ordeal presented by Hurricane Katrina as a weekend of September 11, 2001, remembrances was overshadowed by the US Gulf Coast crisis. ‘‘Four years later, Americans remember the fears and uncertainty and confusion of that terrible morning,’’ Bush said. ‘‘But above all, we remember the resolve of our nation to defend our freedom, rebuild a wounded city, and care for our neighbours in need.’’ In the Katrina crisis Bush has been unable to recapture the same spirit of bipartisan unity as he did in the weeks and months after the September 11 attacks. His approval ratings have sunk to all-time lows with 59 per cent of Americans dissatisfied with his performance. A contributing factor to his low poll numbers has been the Iraq war, fought over weapons of mass destruction that were never found. ‘‘As we approach the fourth anniversary of 9/11, President Bush should admit that he wrongly invoked the tragedy of 9/11 to justify war with Iraq. The war has made terrorists even more determined to attack our country, and has made America less safe,’’ said Massachusetts Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy
