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Divided views on Iraq anniversary Divided views on Iraq anniversary
(about 1 hour later)
The Iraq war has entered its sixth year with US President George W Bush saying it has made the world a safer place.The Iraq war has entered its sixth year with US President George W Bush saying it has made the world a safer place.
He also said that US work with Sunni Muslims in Iraq was yielding the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror group.He also said that US work with Sunni Muslims in Iraq was yielding the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror group.
In a statement marking the anniversary Iraqi President Jalal Talabani hailed the end of Saddam Hussein's "tyranny".In a statement marking the anniversary Iraqi President Jalal Talabani hailed the end of Saddam Hussein's "tyranny".
But he said the invasion had also brought violence and terrorism, and that corruption had become a disease. But he said the invasion had brought "violence and terrorism", and that corruption had become a "disease."
There have been anti-war protests in several US cities amid mounting opposition to the war and its costs.There have been anti-war protests in several US cities amid mounting opposition to the war and its costs.
Local reactionLocal reaction
The BBC's Adam Brookes in Baghdad says there will be no anniversary parades in the Iraqi capital to mark the day when air raids on Baghdad signalled the beginning of the war to oust Saddam Hussein.The BBC's Adam Brookes in Baghdad says there will be no anniversary parades in the Iraqi capital to mark the day when air raids on Baghdad signalled the beginning of the war to oust Saddam Hussein.
Iraqis seem to feel little for the anniversary, our correspondent says, security and the search for basic necessities still preoccupies them.Iraqis seem to feel little for the anniversary, our correspondent says, security and the search for basic necessities still preoccupies them.
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The violence has diminished in the last year, in part thanks to an increase in US forces, which saw the deployment of an extra 30,000 troops.The violence has diminished in the last year, in part thanks to an increase in US forces, which saw the deployment of an extra 30,000 troops.
"The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around - it has opened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror," Mr Bush said in his speech on the eve of the anniversary."The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around - it has opened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror," Mr Bush said in his speech on the eve of the anniversary.
Our correspondent says that also crucial have been a new willingness by Sunni groups to work with Iraq's government and military and a ceasefire on the part of one of the biggest Shia militias - Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi army.Our correspondent says that also crucial have been a new willingness by Sunni groups to work with Iraq's government and military and a ceasefire on the part of one of the biggest Shia militias - Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi army.
But, our correspondent says, even the US generals say there can be no military solution to the conflict.But, our correspondent says, even the US generals say there can be no military solution to the conflict.
Election approvalElection approval
In a statement marking the fifth anniversary, Mr Talabani warned that "the march that started five years ago will not succeed" unless Iraqis can achieve "real reconciliation among our people".In a statement marking the fifth anniversary, Mr Talabani warned that "the march that started five years ago will not succeed" unless Iraqis can achieve "real reconciliation among our people".
On Wednesday, a law paving the way for provincial elections, seen as vital for reconciling Iraq's warring factions, was finally given presidential approval.On Wednesday, a law paving the way for provincial elections, seen as vital for reconciling Iraq's warring factions, was finally given presidential approval.
Mr Bush praised the results of working with Sunni militiasBut, our correspondent said, other crucial laws governing the future shape of Iraq are still languishing.Mr Bush praised the results of working with Sunni militiasBut, our correspondent said, other crucial laws governing the future shape of Iraq are still languishing.
In his speech, Mr Bush said that overthrowing Saddam Hussein had been "the right decision" and he dismissed what he called "exaggerated estimates" of the war's price tag.In his speech, Mr Bush said that overthrowing Saddam Hussein had been "the right decision" and he dismissed what he called "exaggerated estimates" of the war's price tag.
"The costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq," he said."The costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq," he said.
Mr Bush argued that fighting Islamic militants in Iraq helped to prevent attacks on targets in the US.Mr Bush argued that fighting Islamic militants in Iraq helped to prevent attacks on targets in the US.
"The terrorists who murder the innocent in the streets of Baghdad want to murder the innocent in the streets of American cities," he said."The terrorists who murder the innocent in the streets of Baghdad want to murder the innocent in the streets of American cities," he said.
ProtestsProtests
He also made the case that by working with Sunni Arabs from so-called Awakening Councils to defeat al-Qaeda, the US was successfully driving a wedge between militants and the Arab mainstream.He also made the case that by working with Sunni Arabs from so-called Awakening Councils to defeat al-Qaeda, the US was successfully driving a wedge between militants and the Arab mainstream.
"In Iraq," he said, "we are witnessing the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama Bin Laden. And the significance of this development cannot be overstated.""In Iraq," he said, "we are witnessing the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama Bin Laden. And the significance of this development cannot be overstated."
Protesters against the Iraq war demonstrating in Washington DC give their viewsIn picturesProtesters against the Iraq war demonstrating in Washington DC give their viewsIn pictures
He made no reference to the fruitless search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - a major justification for launching the war.He made no reference to the fruitless search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - a major justification for launching the war.
Anti-war protests were held in several US cities on Wednesday, including Washington, New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, amid mounting opposition to the war and its costs.Anti-war protests were held in several US cities on Wednesday, including Washington, New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, amid mounting opposition to the war and its costs.
As Mr Bush spoke, 32 people were arrested protesting in front of the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington.As Mr Bush spoke, 32 people were arrested protesting in front of the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington.
They were trying to draw attention to taxpayers' money funding the war.They were trying to draw attention to taxpayers' money funding the war.
"We wanted to put our bodies between the money and what that money goes to fund - the war, the occupation, the bombs," said Frida Berrigan from the War Resisters League."We wanted to put our bodies between the money and what that money goes to fund - the war, the occupation, the bombs," said Frida Berrigan from the War Resisters League.
Estimates of what the war has cost vary considerably. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates $600bn (£300bn) has been spent on the war so far, including this year's appropriations.Estimates of what the war has cost vary considerably. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates $600bn (£300bn) has been spent on the war so far, including this year's appropriations.
Nobel-prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz calculates that the war will cost $3 trillion (£1.5 trillion) once health care for veterans and future economic losses are considered.Nobel-prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz calculates that the war will cost $3 trillion (£1.5 trillion) once health care for veterans and future economic losses are considered.
Meanwhile, our correspondent in Baghdad says that Iraqis appear to remain overwhelmingly opposed to the presence of foreign troops in their country, though, strikingly, polls show a majority do not want the US pull out yet, but only when the country is much safer than it is now.Meanwhile, our correspondent in Baghdad says that Iraqis appear to remain overwhelmingly opposed to the presence of foreign troops in their country, though, strikingly, polls show a majority do not want the US pull out yet, but only when the country is much safer than it is now.