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Bush rejects retreat in Iraq, sees victory

Cheney makes surprise visit to war zone

Washington — In his first Oval Office speech since he announced the invasion of Iraq nearly three years ago, President Bush told the nation Sunday night that the war is going well, but the U.S. will endure "more testing and sacrifice" before Iraq becomes a beacon of democracy.

"I know that some of my decisions have led to terrible loss, and not one of those decisions has been taken lightly," Bush said. "I know this war is controversial, yet being your president requires doing what I believe is right and accepting the consequences."

LAWRENCE JACKSON/Associated Press (enlarge photo) Vice President Dick Cheney greets an Iraqi soldier on Sunday. Cheney also met with American military leaders, took questions from U.S. troops and conferred with Iraqi political leaders.

"There is more testing and sacrifice before us," Bush said of the war than has claimed more than 2,100 American lives so far.

In his 17-minute address, Bush again predicted victory.

"My fellow citizens: Not only can we win the war in Iraq, we are winning the war in Iraq," he said.

Bush's ongoing defense of the war now highlights last Thursday's Iraqi parliamentary elections, a major milepost toward giving the Middle East something it has never seen.

"This election will not mean the end of violence," Bush said. "But it is the beginning of something new: constitutional democracy at the heart of the Middle East."

Half a world away, in a surprise visit to Iraq, Vice President Dick Cheney talked in broad terms about when U.S. troops might begin to come home. Cheney said Iraqi troops will assume more responsibility in "a situation in which we gradually pull back to a few locations."

Cheney offered no firm schedule, saying the change would occur "over time."

Last week, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq said American forces there will probably be reduced from the current 160,000-troop level to 138,000 by early February.

As he has for months, Bush on Sunday night rejected withdrawal of troops "before our work is done."

"We would abandon our Iraqi friends," he said of premature withdrawal, "and signal to the world that America cannot be trusted to keep its word."

"We would hand Iraq over to enemies who have pledged to attack us, and the global terrorist movement would be emboldened and more dangerous that ever before," the president said.

Ally in vital region

Bush said Iraq's budding democracy "6,000 miles away, in a vital region of the world, means that America has an ally of growing strength in the fight against terror."

Democrats were skeptical even before Bush, who has given a string of speeches on his Iraq policy in recent weeks, delivered his remarks.

"The last speech he gave, he used the word 'victory' 14 times. What does that mean?" Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada asked earlier in the day on "Fox News Sunday."

The speech came as Democrats and Republicans called separately Sunday for congressional investigations of President Bush's decision after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to allow domestic eavesdropping without court approval.

"The president has, I think, made up a law that we never passed," Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) said on CNN's "Late Edition."

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he intends to hold hearings. "They talk about constitutional authority," Specter, also appearning on "Late Edition," said. "There are limits as to what the president can do."

Reid told recently

House Democratic leaders asked Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) to create a bipartisan inquiry panel.

Reid said he had been briefed about the NSA program "a couple of months ago," but he said that came long after Bush initially approved it.

Bush acknowledged Saturday that since October 2001 he has authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on international phone calls and e-mails of people within the United States without seeking warrants from courts.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, also appearing on Sunday talk shows, defended the program as legal, and called for prosecution of anyone involved in leaking its existence.

"The more that we get the exposure of these very sensitive programs, the more it undermines our ability to follow terrorists, to know about their activities," she said on "Fox News Sunday."

Participation praised

Cheney's surprise trip to Iraq came as part of a planned Middle East tour. In England, he left the blue-and-white presidential fleet aircraft and boarded a nondescript C-17. Inside, an Airstream motor home was in place for Cheney's use during the six-hour flight to Baghdad.

In Iraq, Cheney was briefed by military officials and Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. He also met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

Cheney said voter turnout in last Thursday's Iraqi parliamentary election was strong, though final figures are not yet available.

"The participation levels all over the country were remarkable," he told reporters. "That's exactly what needs to happen to build a political structure, a self-governing Iraq that's unified various segments of the population, and ultimately takes over responsibility for its own security."

Cutbacks more likely

At Al-Asad Air Base, Cheney talked in broad terms about U.S. troop cutbacks.

"As the [Iraqi military] gains strength and experience and as the political process advances, we'll be able to decrease troop levels without losing our capacity to defeat the terrorists," Cheney said, according to transcripts made available by the White House.

Much of Cheney's speech to the troops contained what has become familiar administration rhetoric.

"I know most of you have heard the political debates that have been going on back home," he said.

"You've heard some prominent voices advocating a sudden withdrawal of our forces from Iraq."

"The only way to lose this fight is to quit," Cheney said. "And that is not an option."

After the speech, Cheney took questions from Marines during a discussion in a tent.

"From our perspective," said Cpl. Jeffrey Firman, "we don't see much as far as gains. We're looking at small-picture stuff, not many gains. I was wondering what it looks like from the big side of the mountain — how Iraq's looking."

"Well, Iraq's looking good," Cheney replied, noting that progress is difficult.

"We're getting the job done. It's hard to tell that from watching the news. But I guess we don't pay that much attention to the news," he said.

The Associated Press provided quotes from lawmakers on Sunday talk shows.