We must not fail in Iraq: Bush

It was an address that reflected Bush’s difficult circumstances. Limited in ambition and political punch, the speech had no proposals to rival his call two years ago to remake Social Security, no mention of rebuilding New Orleans and no allusions to limiting stem cell research or banning gay marriage.

And when it came to his plan to send additional troops to Iraq, he was forced to plead with the Democrats who now control Congress — and with a growing number of Republican critics — to “give it a chance to work.”

Bush said: “This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in. Many in this chamber understand that America must not fail in Iraq,” he said, “because … the consequences of failure would be grievous and far-reaching.”

His newest initiative was setting a goal to reduce gasoline consumption 20 per cent over the next 10 years. This hit a theme tailored to his appeal for bipartisanship in a city where the balance of power has shifted markedly against Bush since the last State of the Union address.

The other main element of his domestic agenda — a package of proposals intend-ed to improve access to health insurance — had drawn intense opposition from Democrats long before Bush walked to the well of the House chamber, a scene he could not have relished but handled graciously.

Behind him sat Democratic House speaker, Represen-tative Nancy Pelosi, sitting with Vice-President Dick Cheney. In front of him was an audience of Democrats growing increasingly comfor-table with their new power, including quite a few who are jockeying to take his job.

The other goals Bushed ticked off included overhauling immigration laws, taking steps toward a balanced budget, dealing with the long-term financial condition of Social Security and Medicare, and imposing tighter standards on schools.

While Bush has traditionally used these speeches to present a hopeful vision of Iraq, he could not do so on Tuesday night.

His nominee to take over the command of US forces in Iraq, Lieutenant General DH Petraeus, had said earlier in the day that “the situation in Iraq is dire.”