Terrorists converging on Iraq, US stays: Bush

US President George W. Bush has said that terrorists had converged on Iraq and pulling US troops out would only embolden them.

Bush’s speech was part of an effort to counter increased anti-war sentiment. A Harris poll released on Wednesday showed Bush’s approval rating dropping to 40 per cent, while 58 per cent had a negative opinion. The previous Harris poll in June had Bush’s approval rating at 45 per cent, versus 55 per cent disapproval.

Bush said foreign fighters were targeting Iraqi civilians with car bombs and suicide attacks.‘‘The stakes in Iraq could not be higher,’’ he told an audience of about 9,500, on Wednesday, adding: ‘‘So long as I’m the President, we will stay, we will fight, and we will win the war on terror.’’