Bush rejects ideas of 'defeat', says aim to 'win war' -- no leaving until 'job is done'

WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Wednesday he would "not be rushed" into a decision on a strategy change for Iraq, saying that in a round of consultations he heard both some interesting ideas and some "ideas that would lead to defeat."

"And I reject those ideas," Bush said after meeting with top generals and Defense Department officials at the Pentagon. He said those ideas included "leaving before the job is done, ideas such as not helping this (Iraqi) government take the necessary and hard steps to be able to do its job."

Bush spoke with reporters after wrapping up a round of high-level talks on revising his Iraq war policy. Earlier he spoke by telephone with two Kurdish leaders in Iraq as part of what the White House called efforts to forge a "moderate bloc" behind the shaky central government in Baghdad.

Standing with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Bush said he and the nation's top military commanders had "a very candid and fruitful discussion about how to secure this country and about how to win a war that we now find ourselves in."

Read the rest at the Washington Post

Related Link:
Report: Pentagon plan for substantial buildup of troops in Iraq, attack on al-Sadr

Related Link:
Report: Maliki invited to join U.S.-backed anti-Sadr coalition

Related Link:
Report: Bush seeks up to $128 billion more; Total for 2007 may pass $200 billion

Related Link:
U.S. to deploy 4 new combat battalions

Related Link:
Commandant: Marines need more troops for the 'long war'

Related Link:
Pentagon Study to recommend troop increase

Related Link:
2,200 more reserve force Marines heading to Anbar

Related Link:
Marines in Iraq Expanding Adviser Teams

Related Link:
Pentagon: 57,000 troops to deploy early next year

Related Link:
Report: Bush plans "last big push"; Baker commission to comply