Posted on 03/13/2006 1:37:15 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON (AP) -
President Bush will launch a fresh bid Monday afternoon to persuade Americans his policies are making progress in Iraq and that sectarian violence can be stemmed before it breaks out into full-scale civil war.
In a speech at George Washington University -- the first in a series of appearances leading up to the three-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion -- Bush will try to put the latest bloody episodes of sectarian bloodshed in context.
Bush's speech will focus on the role of Iraqi security forces. U.S. military planners have made training Iraqi troops a primary objective. Bush and members of his administration have repeatedly said that as Iraqi forces are more able to provide for their own security, the U.S. forces will relinquish some of the burden.
Bush has acknowledged that while Iraq's security forces need more training, they performed well after the Feb. 22 mosque bombing.
Playing down predictions that Iraq is headed toward civil war, President Bush said Saturday that he's optimistic a new government will unify the nation. He denounced any moves by Iran or Syria to interfere in Iraq's effort to build a democracy.
"I'm optimistic that the leadership recognizes that sectarian violence will undermine the capacity for them to self-govern," Bush said. "I believe we'll have a unity government in place that will help move the process forward."
The United States has been pushing a political solution to Iraq's divisions over a new government. The administration hopes a unified Iraqi government will help settle sectarian feuds that Iraqi leaders fear could lead to civil war.
Hundreds of Iraqis have been killed in attacks following last month's bombing of a Shiite shrine. And in the latest AP Ipsos poll released last week, nearly four out of five Americans, including 70 percent of Republicans, believe civil war will break out in Iraq.
"Amid the daily news of car bombs and kidnappings and brutal killings, I can understand why many of our fellow citizens are now wondering if the entire mission was worth it," Bush said in his weekly radio address on Saturday. "I strongly believe our country is better off with Saddam Hussein out of power."
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Overnight news shows on CBS and ABC are reporting excerpts of the speech now.
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