Bush says Iraq Violence is effort to thwart U.S. midterm elections

President says increase in violence of Iraqi civil war is an effort to affect our mid-term elections and everything will be just fine if you continue to continue allowing republicans to rule.

Bush is insisting that, although he knows it’s tough for U.S. servicemen and women, we need to “stay the course”.

…he insists that the success or failure of his strategy should not be judged by the rising US casualty rate. He suggested that the latest wave of violence, which has put October on course to be one of the US military’s bloodiest months, was linked to the mid-term elections in America.

Polls are showing increasing dissatisfaction with the Bush regime, even amongst republicans.

One poll this week found that 64 per cent of Americans believe going to war in Iraq was a mistake. At the same time, a report from the Iraq Study Group, led by James Baker, the former Secretary of State, is expected to set out alternatives from the “stay the course” strategy of the Administration.

Is the Iraq occupation a “success” or “failure”?

Mr Bush was asked if the rising number of deaths — US forces yesterday reported a 22 per cent increase in attacks during the holy month of Ramadan — showed the Iraq campaign was failing. “If that’s a definition of success or failure — the number of casualties — then you’re right,” he replied, adding: “I define success or failure as to whether we’re seeing a democracy that will grow in the heart of the Middle East.”