US: Reverting to Texan-style tough talk about the enemies of the US, President George Bush yesterday delivered a blunt message to those who would attack American troops in Iraq: "Bring them on."," writes Conor O'Clery in New York.
"There are some who feel like, if they attack us, we may decide to leave prematurely," he said. "They don't understand what they're talking about if that's the case."
Mr Bush's remarks came at an impromptu press conference in the White House and appeared designed to steady nerves after a series of deadly attacks on US troops in Iraq.
A total of 26 US soldiers have died in combat since Mr Bush declared major combat operations over on May 1st, and polls show growing disenchantment with the post-war operation.
The President said he would welcome military assistance from any countries willing to send troops. "But we got plenty tough force there right now to make sure the situation is secure."
Anybody who wanted to harm American troops would be found and brought to justice, he said. "The enemy should make no mistake about it. We will deal with them harshly if they continue to try to bring harm to the Iraqi people."
Although several topics were covered, Mr Bush spent most time justifying the US role in Iraq.
In one monologue he referred obliquely to the growing charges of manipulation of intelligence and the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, and depicted Saddam Hussein as an "incredibly barbaric" tyrant who had to be deposed.
"Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat to the United States of America because we removed him," he said. "My predecessor \, using the same intelligence in 1998, ordered a bombing of Iraq. The world is more peaceful by virtue of the fact that he is no longer in power. But what we're really finding out as well is the threat he posed to the Iraqi people.
"We've uncovered some unbelievable scenes. I've not seen them myself but it's been described to me what it means to see mass graves opened up and the remains of men and women and children murdered by that regime.
"We'll stay the course in Iraq. There's people there would run us out of there, creating conditions where we get nervous and decide to leave.
"We're not going to get nervous and we're not leaving until we accomplish the task, and the task is going to be a free country run by the Iraqi people, and that in turn will help peace in thre Middle East."
He was optimistic about achieving this objective "because I believe people want to be free."
The most recent poll shows that a majority of Americans think the Bush administration exaggerated the threat of lethal weapons in Iraq to justify the war. In a University of Maryland survey published yesterday, 52 per cent agreed the administration was "stretching the truth, but not making false statements" about the weapons threat.
A large majority, 71 per cent, agreed that Bush officials "implied that Iraq under Saddam Hussein was involved in the September 11th, 2001, attacks". No connection was ever established.