Bush touts Iraqi forces to defend his war policy

US President George W. Bush on Wednesday touted the growing readiness of the Iraqi security forces to justify his war policy amid amounting criticism and pressure on an exit strategy.

"As the Iraqi forces grow more capable, they are increasingly taking the lead in the fight against the terrorists," he said in a speech delivered at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

"Our goal is to train enough Iraqi forces so they can carry the fight against the terrorists," he said.

Bush claimed that more than 120 army and police combat battalions are ready to fight on their own, while 80 other Iraqi battalions are fighting side by side with the US-led coalition forces.

Meanwhile, the president admitted that the Iraqi forces "have not always performed well in combat" and "this will take time and patience."

Referring to a newly-released White House policy paper titled "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq," he urged Americans to "have a clear understanding of this strategy."

Still declining to give a withdrawal timetable for US troops in Iraq, Bush said the troops "will stay as long as necessary to complete the mission. If our military leaders there tell us we need more troops, I will send them."

Local analysts said Bush's speech was intended to bring together his arguments for the war rather than laying out a new strategy.

Source: Xinhua