Bush defends his troops induction plan in Iraq

Washington, Jan 14 (UNI) US President W George Bush has defended his plan to dispatch some 21,500 additional troops to Iraq as a ''new way forward,'' but which is opposed by two out of three Americans.

A news CNN poll says that nearly two-thirds of those polled also say President Bush has no clear plan for Iraq.

The opposition Democrats say the plan will only make things worse.

However, President Bush, in his weekly radio address to the nation yesterday, said that his proposed strategy would end sectarian violence in Iraq and help its democratic government succeed.

He advocated focusing on four main areas -- securing the capital Baghdad, fighting al-Qaida in the Iraqi province of Anbar, holding the Iraqi government to announced benchmarks and expanding US military and diplomatic efforts to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in West Asia.

''Only the Iraqis can end the sectarian violence and secure their people. Iraqi leaders understand and are attempting to shoulder their responsibility. But they need our help, and it is in our interest to provide that help,'' President Bush added.

In the Democratic radio address, Congressman Tim Walz said Iraq was the central issue in November legislative elections that gave Democrats control of the House and Senate. The vote showed that Americans wanted an end to the ''President's failed policies in Iraq''.

Mr Walz, who is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, said the plan was a step in the wrong direction - more of the same at the very time when we need a new direction in Iraq.

''Let us be very clear, we need diplomatic and political solutions in Iraq, not more American troops,'' he said.

UNI