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| Bush addresses US economy fears | Bush addresses US economy fears |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| President George W Bush has admitted US economic growth is slowing but in his final State of the Union address urged Americans to have long-term confidence. | President George W Bush has admitted US economic growth is slowing but in his final State of the Union address urged Americans to have long-term confidence. |
| The president acknowledged that the US was facing "uncertainty". | The president acknowledged that the US was facing "uncertainty". |
| However, a $150bn stimulus plan agreed by Congress and the White House would help, he said, and must be passed soon. | However, a $150bn stimulus plan agreed by Congress and the White House would help, he said, and must be passed soon. |
| Mr Bush also said his troop "surge" in Iraq was succeeding after a long and costly war and that al-Qaeda was "on the run" and would be defeated. | Mr Bush also said his troop "surge" in Iraq was succeeding after a long and costly war and that al-Qaeda was "on the run" and would be defeated. |
| He called on Iran's leaders to cease their "support for terror abroad", although he said the US respected the country's people. | He called on Iran's leaders to cease their "support for terror abroad", although he said the US respected the country's people. |
| Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that while they agreed with Mr Bush on the need for a bipartisan approach, he "offered little more than the status quo". | Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that while they agreed with Mr Bush on the need for a bipartisan approach, he "offered little more than the status quo". |
| "At a time when our economy is on shaky ground and our leadership around the world is eroding, the status quo won't do," they said in a joint statement. | "At a time when our economy is on shaky ground and our leadership around the world is eroding, the status quo won't do," they said in a joint statement. |
| Oil dependence | Oil dependence |
| Speaking on the economy, Mr Bush acknowledged that the US was "undergoing a period of economic uncertainty", but sought to reassure the nation. | Speaking on the economy, Mr Bush acknowledged that the US was "undergoing a period of economic uncertainty", but sought to reassure the nation. |
| "At kitchen tables across our country, there is concern about our economic future," he said. | "At kitchen tables across our country, there is concern about our economic future," he said. |
| There is a chance, Mr President, in the next 357 days, to get real results Kathleen Sebelius,Democratic Kansas governor class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7214520.stm">Excerpts: State of the Union class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7214549.stm">State of the Union reaction But, he added: "In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth." | |
| Mr Bush urged Congress not to expand the economic stimulus package beyond what had been agreed, or risk derailing it. He also urged lawmakers to make his tax cuts permanent. | Mr Bush urged Congress not to expand the economic stimulus package beyond what had been agreed, or risk derailing it. He also urged lawmakers to make his tax cuts permanent. |
| In addition, he announced a crackdown on politicians adding pet projects to bills. | In addition, he announced a crackdown on politicians adding pet projects to bills. |
| Echoing a theme of his 2006 address, when he spoke of the US being "addicted to oil", Mr Bush spoke about the importance of US energy independence. | Echoing a theme of his 2006 address, when he spoke of the US being "addicted to oil", Mr Bush spoke about the importance of US energy independence. |
| "Our security, our prosperity and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil," he said. | "Our security, our prosperity and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil," he said. |
| Mr Bush also urged Tehran to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme and "come clean" about its intentions. | Mr Bush also urged Tehran to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme and "come clean" about its intentions. |
| He continued: "But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will protect our vital interests in the Gulf." | He continued: "But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will protect our vital interests in the Gulf." |
| 'American response' | 'American response' |
| On Iraq, Mr Bush acknowledged that the "enemy is still dangerous and more work remains" to be done. | On Iraq, Mr Bush acknowledged that the "enemy is still dangerous and more work remains" to be done. |
| SEE THE PRESIDENT'S GOALS class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/28_01_08_sotu_2008.pdf">2008 State of the Union Policy Initiatives [190KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here But he praised the work of American and Iraqi forces in achieving "results few of us could have imagined just one year ago" and assured Americans that al-Qaeda "will be defeated". | |
| He urged Congress to "meet its responsibilities to these brave men and women by fully funding our troops". | He urged Congress to "meet its responsibilities to these brave men and women by fully funding our troops". |
| Mr Bush said that as a result of progress in Iraq and a transition of operations to Iraqi forces, more than 20,000 troops would be returning to the US in the coming months. | Mr Bush said that as a result of progress in Iraq and a transition of operations to Iraqi forces, more than 20,000 troops would be returning to the US in the coming months. |
| The war in Iraq was a key issue in Mr Bush's 2007 address. He warned then that failure would have "grievous" results. | The war in Iraq was a key issue in Mr Bush's 2007 address. He warned then that failure would have "grievous" results. |
| During 2007, the US military launched the "surge" strategy - a build-up of US troop levels in Iraq - and there have been dramatic improvements in security in many of the most troubled areas, including much of Baghdad. | During 2007, the US military launched the "surge" strategy - a build-up of US troop levels in Iraq - and there have been dramatic improvements in security in many of the most troubled areas, including much of Baghdad. |
| Mr Bush said 20,000 troops would be withdrawn in the coming months | Mr Bush said 20,000 troops would be withdrawn in the coming months |
| But it was also the most deadly year for US forces in Iraq, with some 900 troops killed. | |
| Ahead of the speech, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters: "The president thinks his legacy will shake itself out when people look at the record, and history will tell." | Ahead of the speech, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters: "The president thinks his legacy will shake itself out when people look at the record, and history will tell." |
| In the Democratic reply to the president's speech, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius said: "In this time, normally reserved for the partisan response, I hope to offer you something more: an American response. | In the Democratic reply to the president's speech, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius said: "In this time, normally reserved for the partisan response, I hope to offer you something more: an American response. |
| "There is a chance, Mr President, in the next 357 days, to get real results and give the American people renewed optimism that their challenges are the top priority." | "There is a chance, Mr President, in the next 357 days, to get real results and give the American people renewed optimism that their challenges are the top priority." |
| Lame duck? | |
| The State of the Union address is expected to be Mr Bush's last before he leaves office in January 2009, although he does have the right to deliver one more immediately before he goes. | The State of the Union address is expected to be Mr Bush's last before he leaves office in January 2009, although he does have the right to deliver one more immediately before he goes. |
| According to Gallup polls of approval ratings around the time of the State of the Union addresses, this is the worst year for Mr Bush since his presidency began. | According to Gallup polls of approval ratings around the time of the State of the Union addresses, this is the worst year for Mr Bush since his presidency began. |
| The BBC's Vincent Dowd in Washington says the simple fact that Mr Bush is leaving office means he has less than a year to assert his policies and prove he is no lame duck. | The BBC's Vincent Dowd in Washington says the simple fact that Mr Bush is leaving office means he has less than a year to assert his policies and prove he is no lame duck. |
| Democratic candidate hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were in Congress watching the speech. | Democratic candidate hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were in Congress watching the speech. |
| At least one Republican candidate, John McCain, stayed in Florida ahead of the party's primary in the state on Tuesday. | At least one Republican candidate, John McCain, stayed in Florida ahead of the party's primary in the state on Tuesday. |