Bush lays out Iraq's future

In a speech, President Bush says more troops may be needed to handle violence. He also hopes Abu Ghraib prison will come down.

WASHINGTON - With his public approval rating at its lowest point, President Bush outlined a blueprint for Iraq's future on Monday and vowed to "persevere" and "hold this hard-won ground for the realm of liberty."

In a speech at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., Bush acknowledged the likelihood of continued violence but said he was committed to a basic concept: to let Iraqis govern Iraq.

"America's task in Iraq is not only to defeat an enemy, it is to give strength to a friend - a free, representative government that serves its people and fights on their behalf," he said in a 32-minute speech. "And the sooner this goal is achieved, the sooner our job will be done."

Bush said he hoped to demolish the Abu Ghraib prison, where U.S. soldiers have abused and then photographed Iraqi prisoners. He said the destruction of the prison would be "a fitting symbol of Iraq's new beginning."

Bush did not offer a timetable for removing U.S. troops from the country and said more soldiers might be necessary.

"There are difficult days ahead and the way forward may sometimes appear chaotic," he said. "The terrorists and Saddam loyalists would rather see many Iraqis die than have any live in freedom. But terrorists will not determine the future of Iraq."

Yet he said there were promising signs that the nation was on the right track: Oil production is increasing, schoolteachers are being trained and many towns now have an elected government.

Bush stuck to his plan to transfer authority on June 30.

The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority, which has been governing the nation, will cease to exist, he said. In its place will be the Iraqi Interim Government, which, as outlined by United Nations Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, will have a president, two vice presidents and a prime minister. They will oversee a cabinet with 26 ministers who will operate government departments such as health, justice and defense.

The new government will begin planning for elections to be held by next January. Bush said he understands why some Iraqis have opposed the U.S. occupation.

"Iraqis are proud people who resent foreign control of their affairs - just as we would. After decades under the tyrant, they are reluctant to trust authority," he said, referring to the Iraqis' feelings about former leader Saddam Hussein.

Bush's speech comes at a critical time.

The presidential election is just over five months away and his approval rating has plummeted.

A new ABC News-Washington Post poll released Monday said Bush's overall approval rating has fallen to 47 percent, the lowest since he took office. Fifty percent said they disapprove of his performance.

A separate poll released Monday by the National Annenberg Election Survey found public support has weakened for keeping troops in Iraq, with people now split 47 to 47 percent on whether troops should be brought "home as soon as possible."

Fifty-four percent say the situation in Iraq was not "worth going to war over," according to the Annenberg poll.

Bush emphasized that U.S. troops will still defend Iraq after June 30. They will remain in Iraq under U.S. command but "will have clear rules of engagement," the White House said. The level will stay at 138,000 troops "as long as necessary," but more could be added if needed, the White House said.

The U.S. will help Iraq's military, police and border forces take on more responsibility for security.

"Eventually, they must be the primary defenders of Iraqi security as American and coalition forces are withdrawn," Bush said.

After the speech, Sen. Bob Graham criticized the president for failing to offer a more detailed plan.

"What I heard was, "Stay the course,' " said Graham, D-Fla. "If you like the way things have been going for the past several months, President Bush told you tonight you are going to get more of that for the foreseeable future."

Chuck Todd, editor of The Hotline, a political newsletter, said Bush was trying to show he is in control.

"The problem with the Iraq situation is they don't have control over it," Todd said. "Events have been controlling it - not Bush's words."

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