Bush: Not a word on Iraq

2005-01-20 22:34

Washington - Not a word on Iraq. President George W Bush's inaugural address contained 2 000 words of passion and promise for his second term, but no direct mention of the war that could sink it.

The conflict in Iraq, win or lose, could define his presidency. Bush knows this as well as anyone, which explains his strategic omission.

As he swore the oath for a second time, US casualty totals in Iraq stood at more than 1 360 dead and 10 500 wounded.

The war already cost $100bn, with a price tag running at more than $1bn a week.

A majority of Americans say the conflict is not worth the cost in lives and money, polls show, though they seem willing to give the president time to stabilise Iraq.

Bush asked for the public's patience on Thursday, as he did during his re-election campaign.

"Our country has accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfil, and would be dishonourable to abandon," the president said.

That, along with a tribute to fallen troops, is the closest Bush got to mentioning Iraq.

War on terror

He focused instead on the global war against terrorism, which Bush has deftly linked to Iraq.

With allies already wary of his aggressive world view, Bush pledged to fight evil wherever it lurks: "The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands."

Bush likes to compare the war on terrorism to World War II, both generational battles against tyranny - a word he used five times on Thursday.

Bush uttered "liberty" 15 times and "freedom" 27 times.

Will voters continue to accept Bush's rationale?

"That's the great unanswered question," said Tom Rath, a Bush ally and senior member of the Republican national committee.

"Iraq has the capacity of draining the president politically or, if it works out, mobilising people behind him."

Low approval rating

Bush begins a second term in a politically perilous position. His approval rating is about 50%, lower than any recent second-term president with the exception of Richard Nixon.

Most Americans give him high marks for fighting terrorism, but are skeptical of his policies on Social Security, taxes, the national debt, immigration and health care.

Iraq is the source of greatest concern. Six in 10 say the Iraqi elections this month will not stabilise the country, though just as many say it's a good first step.

"You didn't elect me to do small things," Bush told RNC members in a private session this week.

"I got four years and I'm going to use them."

How effectively he uses that time will likely depend upon, in a word, Iraq.

- AP