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Bush: Americans not fooled by 'irresponsible debate' over Iraq war

By wire services
Published January 11, 2006

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Tuesday warned his critics against "irresponsible debate" over the war in Iraq, as he forecast more progress but also "more tough fighting."

Reserving some of his harshest words for the war's critics at home, the president called on opponents to stop questioning the motives that led him to launch the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

"The American people know the difference between responsible and irresponsible debate when they see it. . . . And they know the difference between a loyal opposition that points out what is wrong, and defeatists who refuse to see that anything is right," Bush said.

"I ask all Americans to hold their elected leaders to account, and demand a debate that brings credit to our democracy - not comfort to our adversaries," Bush said.

Bush acknowledged that there are differences over Iraq among casualty-weary Americans; a recent AP-Ipsos poll found 39 percent approve of his handling of the war. Without specifically mentioning Democrats, the president urged campaigning politicians to "conduct this debate responsibly."

One of those critics, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., contended it was the White House that had twisted the Iraq debate.

"I wholeheartedly agree with President Bush about the need for accountability in the debate on the war in Iraq," Kenney said in a statement. He said the administration has been "firing or ignoring those who spoke the truth about Iraq, and rewarding those who manipulated the facts and were so obviously wrong about the war."

Bush, in a nearly 45-minute address to a welcoming audience of approximately 425 members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and their supporters, outlined the United States' goals for Iraq in 2006, forecasting expanded political progress and security efforts.

The speech is the latest in a series by Bush aimed at giving Americans more detail and more candor. He predicted more sacrifice and more progress in 2006 in Iraq. The president is scheduled to continue the effort today in Louisville, Ky., where he will hold a discussion on the U.S. antiterrorism campaign.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan declined to comment on which critics Bush was referring to when he talked about "irresponsible debate" over the war. In the past, White House officials have criticized comments on the war from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Bush said that when soldiers serving in a battle zone hear politicians questioning their mission, "It hurts their morale." Since the Dec. 15 elections, 498 Iraqis and 54 Americans have been killed.

The president called on Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq to end sectarian divisions, and for Sunnis to cease their insurgency and participate in the nascent political life there.

He said Iraqis need to reach out, as some did during the three rounds of elections there last year, "across political and religious and sectarian lines and form a government of national unity that gives voice to all Iraqis."

"It's important that Sunnis who abandoned violence to join the political process now see the benefits of peaceful participation," the president said, in a message to the Shiite majority.

Information from the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Associated Press was used in this report.

[Last modified January 11, 2006, 00:42:11]