Bush touts successes of war on terror in third straight day

U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday again took credit from the war on terror, as he delivered speech on global terrorism for the third day in a row.

Addressing the audience in Georgia Public Policy Foundation in Atlanta, Bush brushed away criticism that the five-year efforts against terrorism since 9/11 have many flaws, asserting that his administration has achieved many successes.

"Over the past five years, we have waged an unprecedented campaign against terrorism at home and abroad and that campaign has succeeded in protecting the homeland, and we have learned lessons from 9/11," he said.

The president highlighted repairs and fixes he made to national security, ticking through the planning for the 9/11 attacks to show how changes made since have made it more difficult for terrorists to stage another major attack.

The successes he cited included the Afghan war, crackdowns on terrorism funding, improved data-sharing, restructuring of the intelligence agencies, new air travel rules and the Patriot Act.

Bush also renewed his appeal to the Congress to approve a military tribunal process to try key terror suspects.

The president was touting his war-on-terror accomplishments in the third straight day and the efforts are part of a series of speeches and appearances that began last week.

The presidential speeches will continue through two days of events marking the Sept. 11 anniversary and culminate with a Sept. 19 address before the UN General Assembly.

Source: Xinhua