[Peace-discuss] Bush Mourns Death of 3,000th U.S. Soldier in Iraq

[Robert Naiman]

The New York Times

December 31, 2006
Bush Mourns Death of 3,000th U.S. Soldier in Iraq
By REUTERS

Filed at 3:13 p.m. ET

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush mourned the death
of the 3,000th U.S. soldier in Iraq, the White House said on Sunday,
but cautioned war weary Americans that no quick end was in sight to
the fight against terrorism.

Bush has been under pressure to change course in Iraq amid widespread
public and political discontent. He is expected to unveil his new
strategy, which could include more U.S. troops sent into battle, early
next month.

``The president believes that every life is precious and grieves for
each one that is lost,'' said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.
``He will ensure their sacrifice was not made in vain.''

In addition to reaching the new milestone, December is the deadliest
month for U.S. forces in the past two years, with 111 dead, according
to the Web site icasualties.org. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have died
in the almost 4-year-old war.

Bush, who is spending a weeklong holiday break at his Texas ranch, has
been considering a range of options that includes a short-term
increase in forces, but he has rejected the idea of a timetable for
withdrawing the 134,000 troops now in Iraq.

Nonetheless, Bush has shown little desire to make dramatic changes to
his policies despite voters giving control of Congress to Democrats
next year, which was widely seen as a reflection of dissatisfaction
with the Republican president's handling of the war.

Despite the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Bush
warned that violence in Iraq would not end, and was quickly proven
correct when suspected insurgents loyal to Saddam set off car bombs
killing more than 70 on Saturday.

``Many difficult choices and further sacrifices lie ahead,'' Bush said
in a statement after the hanging. ``Yet the safety and security of the
American people require that we not relent in ensuring that Iraq's
young democracy continues to progress.''

The Bush administration has argued that establishing a free Iraq that
can govern and sustain itself is critical to winning a broader war on
terrorism and preventing attacks from being conducted on American
soil.

``We will be fighting violent jihadists for peace and security of the
civilized world for years to come,'' Stanzel said.