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Bush set for key annual address Bush warns against Iraq failure
(about 3 hours later)
US President George W Bush will deliver his seventh annual State of the Union address in a few hours' time, his first since the Democrats took over Congress. US President George W Bush will warn that failure in Iraq would be "grievous and far-reaching" in his annual State of the Union address in a few hours.
He is expected to concentrate on domestic issues, urging his political opponents to join him in tackling the country's most profound problems. Mr Bush will defend his new Iraq plans, urging "America must not fail in Iraq".
He is also expected to focus on domestic issues, urging political opponents to join him in tackling the US's most profound problems.
Topping the agenda will be energy policy, with Mr Bush calling for a 20% cut in petrol consumption by 2017.Topping the agenda will be energy policy, with Mr Bush calling for a 20% cut in petrol consumption by 2017.
He will mention Iraq, but only as one element in the US-led war on terror. In excerpts released ahead of the speech - which Mr Bush is due to deliver at 0200GMT - the president describes the war on terror as a "generational struggle that will continue long after you and I have turned our duties over to others".
For too long our nation has been dependent on foreign oil President Bush Excerpts: State of the Union
He proposes to set up an advisory council on the war on terror, made up of bipartisan leaders in Congress.
"We will show our enemies abroad that we are united in the goal of victory," he says.
This will be Mr Bush's seventh State of the Union address, his first since the Democrats took over Congress.
Recent opinion polls suggest only one-in-three voters approve of the job the president is doing - making him more unpopular than any other president in the last 50 years, except Richard Nixon just before he resigned.Recent opinion polls suggest only one-in-three voters approve of the job the president is doing - making him more unpopular than any other president in the last 50 years, except Richard Nixon just before he resigned.
Alternative fuel funds Green initiatives
Mr Bush's waning popularity contributed to Democratic Party gains in November's mid-term elections, allowing them to seize control of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Mr Bush's advisers say he will adjust to this new political environment by devoting at least half his speech to measures which could attract bi-partisan backing.
A large part of his speech, scheduled for 2100 (0200 GMT Wednesday) will focus on energy policy, in particular climate change and energy independence.
A large part of the speech is expected to focus on energy policySpeaking in advance of the address, White House deputy chief of staff Joel Kaplan said Mr Bush would call for a 20% reduction in petrol use over 10 years.
According to Mr Kaplan, the president expects this cut to be achieved by improving passenger vehicle fuel efficiency and by increasing the use of alternative fuels - such as ethanol.
Mr Bush will ask Congress for $1.6bn over the decade to fund research into alternative energy and $2bn in loans for cellulosic ethanol plants.Mr Bush will ask Congress for $1.6bn over the decade to fund research into alternative energy and $2bn in loans for cellulosic ethanol plants.
Iraq will be defended in the context of the global war on terror
But there are no indications that he will impose specific limits on greenhouse gas emissions.But there are no indications that he will impose specific limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
This will dismay not just Democrats, but some Republican-supporting industrialists who want Mr Bush to adopt a comprehensive strategy for tackling climate change, the BBC's Iain Watson in Washington says.This will dismay not just Democrats, but some Republican-supporting industrialists who want Mr Bush to adopt a comprehensive strategy for tackling climate change, the BBC's Iain Watson in Washington says.
Iraq plan plea Mr Bush will also call for a strengthening of America's energy security - doubling its Strategic Petroleum Reserve by 2027.
In order to minimise problems that could come if instability elsewhere in the world threatened US oil supplies, Mr Bush will also call for a doubling of the capacity of the US' Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) by 2027.
The SPR is an emergency petroleum store with the current capacity to hold up to 727 million barrels of crude oil.The SPR is an emergency petroleum store with the current capacity to hold up to 727 million barrels of crude oil.
"For too long our nation has been dependent on foreign oil," the president will say.
"And this dependence leaves us more vulnerable to hostile regimes, and to terrorists - who could cause huge disruptions of oil shipments ... raise the price of oil ... and do great harm to our economy."
Immigration reform
Mr Bush is also expected to address the difficulties an estimated 47 million Americans face in obtaining health care, proposing a tax break for the least well-off to make health insurance more affordable.Mr Bush is also expected to address the difficulties an estimated 47 million Americans face in obtaining health care, proposing a tax break for the least well-off to make health insurance more affordable.
Iraq is likely to be defended in the context of the global war on terrorBut, according to our correspondent, the money is likely to come from taxing those with generous corporate health care schemes, which could risk alienating Republican support. A large part of the speech is expected to focus on energy policy
As he outlines his administration's plans for the next year, Mr Bush will be unable to avoid mention of Iraq. "We must remember that the best healthcare decisions are made not by government and insurance companies, but by patients and their doctors," Mr Bush will say.
But the conflict is likely to be justified as just one element in the wider war on terror, with the president calling on Democrats in Congress to back his recently announced plan to send 21,500 extra troops to Iraq. But, according to our correspondent, the money is likely to come from taxing those with generous corporate health care schemes, which could risk alienating Republican support.
"For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq, and the president believes his new Iraq plan is the best way to succeed," the White House said in a preview of the speech. The president will also urge Congress to pass an comprehensive immigration reform bill.
"We cannot fully secure the border unless we take pressure off the border - and that requires a temporary worker program," Mr Bush will say.
But it is on Iraq that members of Mr Bush's Republican party are most sceptical, our correspondent says.But it is on Iraq that members of Mr Bush's Republican party are most sceptical, our correspondent says.
And the Democrats will be keen to exploit those divisions.And the Democrats will be keen to exploit those divisions.
They have chosen Senator Jim Webb to give their official response to this year's speech . He is a former marine who narrowly defeated the Republican incumbent in Virginia on an anti-war ticket.They have chosen Senator Jim Webb to give their official response to this year's speech . He is a former marine who narrowly defeated the Republican incumbent in Virginia on an anti-war ticket.