Bush seeks the Americans patience over U.S. war losses

1/27/2005 12:00:00 PM GMT

Following the bloody helicopter crash in Iraq, in which 31 U.S. Marines lost their lives, President George W. Bush pleaded for American people’s patience on that "very discouraging day" of death and violence for U.S. troops in Iraq.

Hours following reports from Baghdad that indicated that more 31 U.S. Marines were killed in the Helicopter crash, Bush held a White House news conference.

Bush acknowledged that heavy U.S. heavy losses in Iraq were depressing his people.

The latest deaths brought to 1,400, the number of U.S. troops who died in Iraq since the war started in 20 March 2003.

Undeterred after the massive U.S. losses in Iraq war, the U.S. President said during the conference: "We'll have the troop levels necessary to complete the mission. And that mission is to enable Iraq to defend herself from terrorists — homegrown or terrorists that come in from outside of the country," hinting that Iraq is still not ready to handle its own security, apparently preparing people for U.S. involvement in the Iraq the next year.

"In the long term, our children and grandchildren will benefit from a free Iraq," he said.

Almost two years after invading Iraq, Bush, is still defending his decision to go on war, is facing mounting criticism about the war's heavy price in both money and lives. In money alone, Iraq is costing taxpayers in the U.S. more than $1 billion a week.

Trying to calm his people, Bush said the Americans are not alone in their qualms. Iraqis are "losing a lot of people" in bombings and assassinations, he said, and "some are feeling intimidated" about threats against voters. He also said: "The Iraqi people are wondering whether or not this nation has the will necessary to stand with them as a democracy evolves.

"The enemy would like nothing more than the United States to precipitously pull out and withdraw before the Iraqis are prepared to defend themselves."

“Mission must be completed”

Despite the U.S. military casualties in Iraq war, Bush argued that the U.S. could not run away from its long-term aim of “spreading freedom”.

"But it is the long-term objective that is vital, and that is to spread freedom," Bush stressed.

If not with the sacrifices the American troops are giving, he said, "the Middle East will continue to be a caldron of resentment, hate, (a) recruiting ground for those who have this vision of the world that is the exact opposite of ours."

In an interview with Al-Arabiya satellite news channel, Bush noted that the U.S. troops will stay in Iraq till security is restored to the war-torn country. "But that mission must be completed. ... I've heard talk that we are occupiers," he said.

"No, the United States and our troops and our coalition are there to help the Iraqi citizens." He said U.S. forces will do the job as quickly as possible and then come home.

Lacking details about Wednesday helicopter crash, Bush said: "The story today is going to be very discouraging to the American people. I understand that. We value life. We weep and mourn when soldiers lose their life," " But it is the long-term objective that is vital, and that is to spread freedom."

Iraqi’s elections, to be held on Sunday, is seen by analysts as a major test for Bush, who had always boasted about his goal of spreading democracy in the Middle East. "I anticipate a grand moment in Iraqi history," he said.

"We anticipate a lot of Iraqis will vote," the president said. "Clearly there are some who are intimidated."

Bush, moreover, said the elections will be successful even before they happen.

"The fact that they're voting, in itself, is successful," he said. "Again, this is a long process."

The U.S. President said that he is leading his country toward an honorable goal — in Iraq and across the world. "I firmly planted the flag of liberty," he said.

The U.S. military said it was now studying plans to increase the number of U.S. military advisers to Iraqi soldiers by the thousands to accelerate the training of local troops; identified as America's best exit strategy from Iraq.