Bush, US commanders meet to weigh Iraq tactics

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) President George W Bush met today with top U S military commanders to discuss the Iraq war and said he would ''make every necessary change'' in tactics to try to control spiraling violence there.

Despite growing election-year pressure from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers for an overhaul of his Iraq strategy, Bush insisted he would not abandon his goal of building a self-sustaining Iraq government.

The president, however, acknowledged in his weekly radio address that the violence there has risen sharply. In October alone, at least 73 U S troops have been killed, a pace that -- if it continues -- could make it one of the deadliest months for U S forces since the war began in 2003.

Bush said the military always reviews the way it conducts the war and ''we will continue to be flexible, and make every necessary change to prevail in this struggle.'' But he added, ''Our goal in Iraq is clear and unchanging: Our goal is victory. What is changing are the tactics we use to achieve that goal.'' Bush held a videoconference involving Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, top White House officials and U S military officials in Iraq.

Gen John Abizaid, who oversees the Iraq war as head of the U S Central Command, is in Washington and was a key presenter at the videoconference.

''This meeting was the third in a series of consultations between the president and his commanders in the field on Iraq,'' White House spokeswoman Nicole Guillemard said.

''The participants focused on the nature of the enemy, the challenges in Iraq, how to better pursue our strategy, and the stakes of succeeding for the region and the security of the American people,'' Guillemard said.

While insisting he is always open to adjustments in tactics in Iraq, Bush has denounced Democrats calling for a course correction as supporting a ''doubt and defeat'' approach.

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