Bush Vows To Stay Iraq Course

As the world marked the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, President George W. Bush remained steadfast in explaining his case for going to war and toppling the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein, pledging the United States will not abandon the violence-plagued country. He insisted progress was being made, citing the recovery of the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar from the grip of al Qaeda.

As the public becomes increasingly gloomy about U.S. involvement in Iraq, where more than 2,300 American troops have died, President Bush is struggling with public approval ratings that have dropped to all-time lows during his tenure.

In a speech to the City Club of Cleveland, Bush said "The situation on the ground remains tense. In the face of continued reports about killings and reprisals, I understand how some Americans have had their confidence shaken...they wonder what I see that they don`t." Tal Afar was noted as a concrete example of success, with President Bush saying it was now "a free city that gives reason for hope for a free Iraq."

                                 

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