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Bush defends surge policy in Iraq

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-21 07:54

WASHINGTON-- US President George W. Bush said on Wednesday that his decision to send more US troops to Iraq in early 2007 had brought the country an improving security situation.

The president told an annual convention of Veterans of Foreign Wars that as a commander in chief, a US president "must always listen to the commanders, and not the latest opinion polls."

"America's future leaders must remember that the war on terror will be won on the offense. And that's where our military must stay," he said.

Bush also noted in his remarks that the anti-terror war "cannot be won, however if we treat terrorism primarily as a matter of law enforcement."

"Law enforcement is an essential part of our strategy but our strategy cannot be limited to law enforcement alone," he added.

It was Bush's final appearance before a veterans group as commander in chief before his presidency ends next January.

He defended his decision on the surge policy in Iraq as two presidential candidates are sharply divided on the Iraq war.

Democratic hopeful Barack Obama opposed to the war from the beginning and has vowed to pull out most combat troops in the first 16 month of his presidency, while Republican candidate John McCain strongly supported the war and the surge policy. He was also against the quick pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq.

When addressing the VFW on Tuesday, Obama reaffirmed his opposition to the Iraq war, saying that the surge of troops has not brought political gains needed to ensure the country's long term stability.

McCain told the annual conference on Monday that the surge has resulted in the reduction of violence in Iraq, making it possible for additional troops to come home.