Bush Admits to Setbacks in Afghanistan

President Bush stands on stage to deliver remarks on the 'global war on terror' to the Reserve Officers Association in Washington on Friday, Sept. 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert - AP)

WASHINGTON -- President Bush asserted Friday that critics who claim the Iraq war has made America less safe embrace "the enemy's propaganda." He acknowledged setbacks in Afghanistan against a Taliban resurgence but predicted eventual victory.

"You do not create terrorism by fighting terrorism," he told a receptive military audience. "If that ever becomes the mind-set of the policymakers in Washington, it means we'll go back to the old days of waiting to be attacked _ and then respond."

It was the latest in Bush's series of speeches defending his Iraq and anti-terrorism policies against heightened attacks from Democrats, who now are citing a government intelligence assessment to bolster their criticism. The classified National Intelligence Estimate, parts of which Bush declassified earlier this week, suggests the Iraq war has helped recruit more terrorists.

"Some have selectively quoted from this document to make the case that by fighting the terrorists _ by fighting them in Iraq _ we are making our people less secure here at home," Bush told the Reserve Officers Association. "This argument buys into the enemy's propaganda that the terrorists attack us because we're provoking them."

With just over five weeks left before congressional elections, Democrats were quick to react. "President Bush's election-year attacks are the product of a desperate White House with no credibility left with the American people," said Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

"It was yet another example of how he is in denial over what is happening in the war on terror," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Meanwhile, Bush spoke by phone for about 15 minutes on Friday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said White House spokesman Tony Snow. They discussed efforts to bring greater security to Baghdad and "the need for further progress in political reconciliation," Snow said.

Bush spent most of his speech talking about the conflict in Afghanistan, where militant violence, particularly in the southern part of the country, has spiked in the worst outbreak since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban government.

"The training of the Afghan police has not gone as smoothly as that of the army," Bush said. "The police have faced problems with corruption and substandard leadership. And we've made our concerns known to our friends in the Afghan government."

Bush noted that Afghan President Hamid Karzai has named a new team to lead the national police. "As the police become more capable and better led and more disciplined, they will gain legitimacy and they will earn the respect of the Afghan people," Bush said. He met with Karzai on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bush said he welcomed NATO's decision this week to take the lead in providing security and reconstruction assistance throughout Afghanistan.

"Under the plan, the U.S. will transfer 12,000 of our troops that are now serving in the country to the NATO force, while the rest will remain under coalition command and continue anti-terrorist operations across the country," Bush said.