US President George W. Bush said on Tuesday the United States would prevail in the war againstterror, reversing himself just one day after he stirred a controversy by saying he did not think America could win the war.

In his remarks to the American Legion convention in Nashville, Tenn., Bush said several times that the United States would win the war on terror.

"We meet today at a time of war for our country; a war we did not start, yet one that we will win," Bush said. "If America showsweakness or uncertainty in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch."

In an interview with NBC broadcast on Monday, Bush was asked ifthe United States could win the war against terrorism, which he has made the focus of his administration and the central thrust ofhis re-election campaign.

"I don't think you can win it," Bush replied. "But I think you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world."

As recently as July 14, Bush had drawn a far sunnier picture. "I have a clear vision and a strategy to win the war on terror," hesaid.

Bush's departure from his previous optimistic statements complicated the Republican Party's effort to depict him as a strong leader on the war on terror as the party opened its National Convention in New York on Monday.

The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry has quickly seized on Bush's comments to attack his "failed leadership." US Senator John Edwards, vice presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, said Bush's remarks were actually a declaration of defeat.

"We may never sit down at a peace table, but make no mistake about it, we are winning and we will win," Bush said at the American Legion convention.

Source: Xinhua