President Bush is holding a news conference Monday, just hours after defending the war in Iraq in a nationally televised speech late Sunday.
Mr. Bush is expected to face questions about his authorization of a secret domestic surveillance program, which has drawn harsh criticism in Congress. He is also expected to be questioned on Iraq, and about his efforts to renew the Patriot Act, which expanded the government's search and surveillance powers after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
In Sunday's speech, Mr. Bush said the United States is winning the war in Iraq and warned against a quick withdrawal. The president lashed out at opposition Democrats, calling their criticism of his handling of the war "defeatism", and said it is not justified by the facts.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
