President Bush spent part of his Independence Day holiday delivering a speech to U.S. troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He thanked them for their courage, and said terrorists around the world are vulnerable after the death of the al-Qaida leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
President Bush spoke to U.S. troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the 82nd Airborne Division. He thanked American troops stationed around the world for their valor and patriotism. Mr. Bush cited the recent killing of al-Qaida leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
He told the troops terrorists have suffered some major blows and are vulnerable.
"You're winning this war. Your enemies understand that, too. We get all kinds of evidence when we raid these safe houses about their concerns. They bemoan the fact that we are keeping the pressure on them. They see the successes we are having in training. They know we are damaging their cause. This moment, when the terrorists are suffering from the weight of successive blows, is not the time to call retreat. We will stay, we will fight, and we will prevail."
President Bush again strongly rejected what he calls an "artificial timetable" to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq. Some Democratic Party lawmakers have called on him to set a timeframe for leaving and letting Iraqis take over the security of their country. The president said setting a timetable now would undermine the new Iraqi government and the morale of U.S. troops.
"I'm going to make you this promise. I am not going to allow the sacrifice of 2,527 troops who have died in Iraq to be in vain by pulling out before the job is done. "
President Bush had lunch with the troops at Fort Bragg, and they brought out a birthday cake. The president turns 60 Thursday.
