Iraq `endgame in sight`, says US

Iraq `endgame in sight`, says US	22.05.2008

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State of the Union: Quotes

Main points of Mr Bush`s last State of the Union:

On Iraq

On Iran

On the environment

On stem cells

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Have Your Say

Latest Comments:

War in climate change 2.5 billion, war on terror 1 trillion. War on climate change saves humanity, and you wonder how George Bush got a Masters degree. Hopefully the world will come to an end before we see another Bush in office!
Posted by: Bruno of Perth 5:12pm today

"We don't mess with your politics. Posted by: M 3:36pm today Comment 58 of 67"Are you serious? You probably are, and that is your problem!
Posted by: Julian Thomas of Concord 4:29pm today

Yes Emma I have lived in the States for a year and have no desire to go back other than for a holiday to see friends.Yes we have high schools, universities, homes and friends in Australia. Yes we have problems as well but most of us wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Good riddance Emma, don't let the door hit you where the Lord split you.
Posted by: Lee 4:27pm today

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Focus on climate, Iraq getting better... again
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State of the Union drinking game

GEORGE W. Bush has commited billions of dollars to fight climate change and asked for billions more to keep US troops fighting in Iraq in his final chance to lay out his vision for his last 12 months in office.

Mr Bush has delivered his last State of the Union address to Congress in Washington DC from 1pm (AEDT), but there was little in the hour-long speech that we had not heard before.

Mr Bush has said the situation in Iraq is improving and that al-Qaeda is on the back foot, but that more work needs to be done. He has also promised $US 2 billion ($2.27 billion) to promote clean energy technologies and gave more money to stem cell research - but only a specific type.

In an echo of former prime minister John Howard`s attempt to switch to a green agenda to inject some relevancy into his government, attention is already focused more on who will come after Mr Bush than on his plans for cementing his legacy.

The US presidential election campaign is entering a crucial week - with the Florida primaries taking place tomorrow and "Super Duper Tuesday" on Wednesday next week (Australian time). Mr Bush cannot run for another term.

Democratic senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were in the chamber for the speech, but Republican John McCain chose to stay campaigning for the Florida primary.

Today`s speech represented a rare chance for Mr Bush to try to dominate the headlines and remind the world he still holds the reins. However even a White House spokesman was quoted as having acknowledged Mr Bush will struggle to hold the spotlight for long.

Iraq

Mr Bush will leave the next president with a hefty bill to cover in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the speech he has asked for $US70 billion ($79 billion) to pay for both campaigns up until his successor takes the oath of office one year from now.

He has said that Iraq has been a long and costly war, but that al-Qaeda is "on the run".

"Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead," he has said.

"Some may deny the surge is working but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al-Qaeda is on the run in Iraq and this enemy will be defeated," he said prompting the strongest applause of the speech.

He has said that withdrawing troops too early would undo all the gains made. "Having come so far and achieved so much, we must not allow this to happen."

While mass casualty bombings have dropped off since an extra 30,000 US troops were sent to Iraq - in a plan announced in last year`s State of the Union - 2007 was the deadliest year for the Americans since the 2003 war.

The surge had been sold as a way to ease the sectarian violence that had taken Iraq to the brink of civil war. A permanent political solution remains elusive.

Mr Bush will also include a warning to Iran to stop enriching uranium and "cease supporting terror" and a promise to "confront those who threaten our troops" in the region.

In Mr Bush`s 2002 State of the Union, he included Iran with Iraq and North Korea in an "axis of evil" that was threatening world security and presenting a grave danger to the United States.

Environment

Mr Bush`s climate change commitment targets clean energy technologies over three years, taking it into the first half of his successor`s first term. But it continues Mr Bush`s policy that the US should not act unless developing nations join in.

"Along with contributions from2 other countries, this fund will increase and accelerate the deployment of all forms of cleaner, more efficient technologies in developing nations like India and China, and help leverage substantial private-sector capital by making clean energy projects more financially attractive," the White House said earlier.

Mr Bush has reaffirmed the United States` commitment to work with major economies and through the United Nations to complete an international agreement that will slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.

"This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride," the White House said.

Economy

He has also urged the US Congress to support his massive economic stimulus plan, aimed at heading off the country`s slide into a recession.

Fears of a prolonged and deepening US downturn sent world markets into meltdown last week, wiping billions of dollars from the value of Australian shares.

A recent wave of public opinion polls has found that worries about the economy have overtaken concerns about the conflict in Iraq and terrorism in the minds of US voters.

- with Reuters and AFP

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