Cheney notes 4,000 troop deaths in Iraq

ANKARA, Turkey, March 24 (UPI) -- President George Bush "carries the biggest burden" when U.S. soldiers die in Iraq because he committed the country to war, Vice President Dick Cheney said.

"The president carries the biggest burden, obviously," Cheney told ABC News while in Turkey. "He's the one who has to make the decision to commit young Americans, but we are fortunate to have a group of men and women, the all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm's way for the rest of us."

The death toll for U.S. troops in Iraq reached 4,000 during the weekend.

When asked about the toll that multiple deployments have on some soldiers, Cheney said some enlist because they will see developments.

"For example, 9/11 stimulated a lot of folks to volunteer for the military because they wanted to be involved in defending the country."

He said service members in Iraq have told him they are committed to the war.

"The thing that comes through loud and clear is how much they are committed to the cause, to doing what needs to be done to defend the nation," Cheney said.