the cojones on this guy...

...can you believe it? he doesn't even complete his stint with the national guard, but he expects their support? if he wants to see a "madman" captured, he should slip on a pair of handcuffs and take a peek in a mirror. at the moment, is there a man more dangerous and mad than bush? honestly.

Bush, in Campaign Mode, Challenges Critics on Iraq
2 hours, 17 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!

By Randall Mikkelsen

MANCHESTER, N.H. (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites), in a push to defend the war on Iraq (news - web sites) in face of growing doubts at home and mounting U.S. deaths in the country, said on Thursday he had acted to protect Americans from "madman" Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)

"Who could possibly think that the world would be better off with Saddam Hussein still in power?" Bush said during a visit to New Hampshire -- site of the first major presidential primary election next year.

"I acted because I was not about to leave the security of the American people in the hands of a madman. I was not about to stand by and wait and trust in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein," Bush said, referring to the Iraqi leader ousted six months ago in the U.S.-led war.

Bush has faced growing public suspicions that he exaggerated an Iraqi threat of unconventional weapons -- which have not been found -- to justify the war.

He is also being accused of mismanaging the occupation of the country where U.S. troops are dying almost daily in attacks. Even on the day Bush spoke, another U.S. soldier, a Spanish diplomat and at least 10 Iraqis died in a trio of attacks.

The president spoke to a military audience in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, before visiting Manchester to address the city's Chamber of Commerce (news - web sites). In both speeches he defended his record on Iraq and the U.S. economy, two major issues where potential Democratic challengers have criticized Bush.

Bush's remarks on Iraq had few new arguments, but he and top aides will make their case repeatedly in coming days in a public relations push. A Bush aide said the president was trying to turn the tables on his critics.

Democrats accused Bush of substituting public relations for policy. "I don't think the American people want spin. I think they want results. The only way we're going to get results is to change the approach," Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle told reporters.

WANING SUPPORT

Bush's audience in Portsmouth was made up of New Hampshire National Guard troops and reservists. A heavy reliance on reserves in Iraq and elsewhere has sparked politically volatile discontent among them over their long deployments, and Washington has faced resistance to a new U.N. resolution paving the way for more countries to contribute troops.

A nationally televised address about Iraq last month and a U.N. speech did little to answer public doubts.

Although no unconventional weapons have been found and Bush has also failed to show any evidence linking Iraq to the Sept. 11 attacks, he reiterated pre-war arguments that Saddam possessed such weapons and sponsored terror groups.

Bush also challenged critics of his tax cuts, who say the country cannot afford them. "Some are saying now is the time to raise taxes...But I strongly disagree," he said.

He said the economy was showing hopeful signs, citing an increase in jobs last month. On Thursday, the government reported jobless claims fell for the first time in eight months last week.

Bush, whose poll ratings have declined because of concerns over Iraq and the U.S. economy, also engaged in some New Hampshire election campaigning. He made a rare unannounced stop at a Manchester pizza parlor and greeted patrons and workers before enjoying a slice, but aides said the trip was not a campaign visit to New Hampshire.

However, the state kicks off the presidential primary season on Jan. 27, and the president lost it to Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) in the 2000 Republican primary.

Democratic presidential contender, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (news, bio, voting record), in a campaign advertisement set to air in New Hampshire this week, criticized Bush for asking Congress to give "$87 billion for Iraq, with no plan in sight." (additional reporting by Caren Bohan)
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