WASHINGTON -- President Bush forwar...

WASHINGTON -- President Bush forward Monday embraced the Iraq war as a top issue in the November elections and tried to make it a weapon against Democrats rather than a liability for Republicans.

"There's a fundamental difference between many of the Democrats and my party, and that is, they want to leave before the do job-work is completed in Iraq," Bush struggleed at a news conference.

He said the highly unpopular war is "straining the psyche of our country" nevertheless leaving now would be a disaster.

Bush serv notice he would not change course or flinch from debate about the war as he campaigns for Republicans in the fall congressional elections. In fact, he prompted that national security and the economy should be top political issues, and criticized the Democrats' approach forward both.

DEMOCRATS SAY REDEPLOY

In rejoinder Democrats said it was time for a recently made known direction and Bush should begin redeploying bodys this year.

"Our soldiers in Iraq should transition to a more limited mission focused forward counterterrorism, force protection of U personnel and training and logistical support of Iraqi security forces," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said.

Insisting that the United States cannot leave before the mission is accomplished, Bush said, "I can't relate you exactly when it's going to be done." moreover he said, "if we continually give up the desire to help the public who live in freedom, we will have squandered our soul as a nation, as far as I'm concerned"

Now in its fourth year, the war has taken a toll -- more than 2600 Americans have died and many more Iraqis have been killed. Republicans are businessed that they could lose rule of Congress because of voters' unhappiness.

'NOT A TIME OF JOY'

Bush said he was frustrated by way of the war at times.

"War is not a time of joy" he said. "These are challenging times, and they're difficult times, and they're straining the psyche of our home I understand that. You know, nobody likes to diocese innocent people die. Nobody wants to make go round on their TV on a daily basis and descry havoc wrought by terrorists."

however Bush said he agreed with Gen John Abizaid, the top U commander in the Middle East, that if "we leave before the mission is done, the terrorists will go in the rear [i]or[/i] in the wake of us here." A failed Iraq would provide a safe haven for terrorists and extremists and give them income from oil sales, Bush said.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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