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Success in Iraq vital, says Bush Success in Iraq vital, says Bush
(about 1 hour later)
US President George W Bush has said the recent upsurge in violence in Iraq is a "serious concern", warning that success there is vital in the war on terror.US President George W Bush has said the recent upsurge in violence in Iraq is a "serious concern", warning that success there is vital in the war on terror.
"I know many Americans are not satisfied with the situation in Iraq," he said. "I'm not satisfied either"."I know many Americans are not satisfied with the situation in Iraq," he said. "I'm not satisfied either".
He warned that if Iraq became a failed state, extremists could gain access to oil wealth and launch fresh attacks.He warned that if Iraq became a failed state, extremists could gain access to oil wealth and launch fresh attacks.
His comments come two weeks ahead of crucial mid-term elections, amid public unease over US policy in Iraq.His comments come two weeks ahead of crucial mid-term elections, amid public unease over US policy in Iraq.
In what the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says is an unusual departure from normal practice, the US president began the press conference at the White House by outlining recent setbacks in Iraq.In what the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says is an unusual departure from normal practice, the US president began the press conference at the White House by outlining recent setbacks in Iraq.
He said the deaths of 93 US troops and 300 Iraqi security personnel in the last month were of "serious concern" to him.He said the deaths of 93 US troops and 300 Iraqi security personnel in the last month were of "serious concern" to him.
Mr Bush said the US would "prevail"Civilians had suffered "unspeakable violence at the hands of the terrorists, insurgents, illegal militias, armed groups and criminals," he said. We cannot allow our dissatisfaction to turn into disillusionment about our purpose in this war US President George W Bush Civilians had suffered "unspeakable violence at the hands of the terrorists, insurgents, illegal militias, armed groups and criminals," he said.
But he warned that if the US was not successful in Iraq, extremists could use it as a base from which to try to establish a "radical empire from Spain to Indonesia".But he warned that if the US was not successful in Iraq, extremists could use it as a base from which to try to establish a "radical empire from Spain to Indonesia".
With opinion polls showing growing doubt over the US role in Iraq, Mr Bush said: "We cannot allow our dissatisfaction to turn into disillusionment about our purpose in this war."With opinion polls showing growing doubt over the US role in Iraq, Mr Bush said: "We cannot allow our dissatisfaction to turn into disillusionment about our purpose in this war."
"We're winning and we will win, unless we leave before the job is done," he said."We're winning and we will win, unless we leave before the job is done," he said.
He said the administration's goals there had not changed, but that the US was "adapting its tactics". He said the administration's goals there had not changed and stressed that setting a fixed timetable for withdrawal "means defeat", but said the US was constantly adapting its tactics.
Iraqi roleIraqi role
In recent days senior Bush administration figures have increased pressure on the Iraqi government to rein in militias and death squads.In recent days senior Bush administration figures have increased pressure on the Iraqi government to rein in militias and death squads.
Mr Bush said that he was "making it clear that America's patience is not unlimited".Mr Bush said that he was "making it clear that America's patience is not unlimited".
But he said that at the same time the US authorities would not "put more pressure on the Iraqi government than it can bear". Mr Bush has faced criticism over his Iraq policyBut he said that at the same time the US authorities would not "put more pressure on the Iraqi government than it can bear".
He also said the US would continue to support Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as long as he continued to make "tough decisions".He also said the US would continue to support Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as long as he continued to make "tough decisions".
Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki pledged to "strike hard" at illegal militias, which are widely blamed for the growing sectarian violence in Iraq. Earlier, Mr Maliki pledged to "strike hard" at illegal militias, widely blamed for the growing sectarian violence, but insisted he was working to his own, not a US, timetable.
But he insisted he was working to his own timetable, not a US-imposed deadline for improving security.
He was also critical of what he described as a lack of co-ordination with coalition forces over a raid in Baghdad's Sadr City that resulted in four deaths.He was also critical of what he described as a lack of co-ordination with coalition forces over a raid in Baghdad's Sadr City that resulted in four deaths.
Anger over raid Controversial raid
US aircraft were called in for back-up after Iraqi special forces came under fire in Sadr City, a stronghold of the Mehdi army militia. They were trying to capture the commander of an armed group who directed death squads, a US military statement said.US aircraft were called in for back-up after Iraqi special forces came under fire in Sadr City, a stronghold of the Mehdi army militia. They were trying to capture the commander of an armed group who directed death squads, a US military statement said.
The military said "precision gunfire" was used "only to eliminate the enemy threat". The deaths in the raid provoked anger in Sadr CityThe military said "precision gunfire" was used "only to eliminate the enemy threat".
But Iraqi police said US troops shot at them while they were trying to take injured people to hospital.But Iraqi police said US troops shot at them while they were trying to take injured people to hospital.
At least four people were killed and about 15 injured, provoking anger in Sadr City.At least four people were killed and about 15 injured, provoking anger in Sadr City.
Sectarian killings and tit-for-tat reprisals have becoming increasingly common in Baghdad and some other areas.
The Mehdi army, a militia linked to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, has repeatedly been accused of involvement in death squads carrying out attacks on Sunnis.
Mr Maliki's fragile coalition government includes Shia parties - including Mr Sadr's - that have links to powerful militias.
BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says the Iraqi prime minister is caught between his American ally and Shia public opinion and has extremely limited room for manoeuvre.
He says it is now obvious to most people in the region that the relationship between the US and Mr Maliki's government is under strain.
Correspondents say the Bush administration is aware that public support for the war in Iraq is threatening painful election losses in mid-term elections due on 7 November, when Democrats will seek to wrest control of both houses of Congress from the Republican party.