Bush lays out case for staying in Iraq

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush laid out a strong case for staying in Iraq Thursday, saying it is imperative to change the conditions in that part of the world.

In his first news conference at the White House since July 12, Bush argued U.S. intervention in Iraq will make the world safer in the long run.

"There is no question (the Iraqi government) hasn’t made as much progress as I would have hoped," Bush said, noting what a difficult task it is for a new democracy to gain its footing after years of tyranny.

"Does it matter whether there is a self-governing entity in Iraq in the region that is an ally in the war on terror? … Does it matter to your children? It does matter. It does matter because enemies that would like to do harm to the American people would be emboldened by failure.”

Bush said there has been debate over whether the danger to the United States is real.

"I strongly believe that is the case,” he said, adding that it is our job to “work to change the conditions that moved 19 kids to come on airplanes to murder our citizens. … I could not send a mother’s child into combat if I did not believe it was necessary."