US President George W. Bush, buffeted by slumping ratings over Iraq, visited the campaign battleground state of West Virginia on Sunday to deliver an Independence Day message brimming with confidence about America’s role on the world stage. ‘‘As in other times, Americans are serving and sacrificing to keep this country safe and to bring freedom to others,’’ the Republican President said, recounting military successes against Afghanistan’s Taliban and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. Bush described the US as ‘‘the world’s foremost champion of liberty’’ and said ‘‘terrorists’’ cannot be negotiated with. ‘‘We must be relentless and determined and do our duty!’’ he declared while pounding the podium. ‘‘We will fear no evil and we will prevail.’’ In a state with a large number of military veterans, Bush lavished praise on the sacrifices of US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the 989 killed and 5,726 wounded in both countries as part of his administration’s war on terrorism. ‘‘Each is mourned and missed, and each one will be honoured by our country forever,’’ the President told hundreds of cheering, flag-waving supporters. Analysts said the Independence Day appearance gave the President a opportunity to step outside the confines of partisan politics and appeal to voters on a holiday that underscores the magisterial stature of the presidency. ‘‘People are looking to him with a much less partisan eye on the Fourth of July than they are on most days of the year,’’ explained Calvin Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. —(Reuters)
