Bush reaffirms "victory strategy" in Iraq

In his last weekly radio address in 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush on Saturday reaffirmed his "victory strategy" in Iraq.

"The United States has a vital interest in the success of a free Iraq, so in the year ahead, we will continue to pursue the comprehensive strategy for victory," he said in the address delivered from his home ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Therefore, the U.S. military will remain "on the offense" in the new year to install a "stable and independent democracy" in Iraq, Bush said.

He said the U.S.-led coalition forces are "finding and clearing the enemy out of Iraqi cities, towns and villages, transferring more control to Iraqi units, and building up the Iraqi security forces so they can increasingly lead the fight to secure their country."

However, he did not touch upon the key issue of reducing US troop levels.

The president is spending the week at his Texas ranch and will return to the White House on Sunday.

Source: Xinhua