Bush pitches Iraq plan to Ft. Benning soldiers

FT. BENNING, GA. — President Bush argued the case for his new Iraq strategy Thursday at an Army post where a combat brigade will be hurried to Baghdad as part of the revised effort to establish peace in the war-torn capital.

The plan calls for the brigade, which includes soldiers who will be making a third tour in Iraq, to be deployed in March, a couple of months earlier than planned.

Bush reprised the key points from his nationally televised Wednesday night speech, acknowledging that the administration’s policies have failed to quell sectarian violence raging in Iraq -- especially in Baghdad. The president conceded the situation had “turned out differently than I had anticipated.”

But to a greater degree than he did Wednesday, Bush focused on the potentially dire effects of diminishing the U.S. commitment in Iraq and beginning a withdrawal of American troops.

Such moves would cause Islamic extremists to “grow in strength,” he warned. “They would be emboldened. It would make it easier” for them to recruit followers and threaten other governments throughout the Middle East.

With polls showing strong public opposition to his new plan and with sharp criticism of it coming even from some fellow Republicans, Bush also sought to spell out the possible consequences for Americans of a failure to stabilize Iraq.

“Imagine what would happen if [Islamic] extremists who hate America and our way of life gained control of energy reserves,” he said. “You can bet they would use those reserves to blackmail economies in order to achieve their objective.”

Under his redrawn blueprint for Iraq, 21,500 soldiers and Marines will be added in the coming months to the 132,000 U.S. troops now in the country.

Working in closer concert with Iraqi army and police forces -- which the government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has pledged to bolster -- the American troops will launch more intense and sustained efforts to stem the violence in Baghdad and Al Anbar province.

Bush said that “what’s new about this plan is that there will be enough troops to clear, build and hold” neighborhoods in those areas, “and that our troops will be able to move alongside the Iraqis without political interference. And that’s very important.”

The president and his aides have stressed that they expect -- and have been promised -- greater cooperation and commitment by Maliki’s government to reining in Iraq’s warring elements. Bush reiterated that point Thursday.

“The prime minister and I have had some plain talking,” he said. “I have made it clear that the patience of the American people is not unlimited.”

But Bush also asked for patience as the plan is put into effect, cautioning that it “is not going to yield immediate results.... The American people have got to understand that suicide bombings won’t stop immediately.”

Bush spoke to about 300 soldiers and family members at Ft. Benning. His audience was friendly, but his sober address received a less enthusiastic reception than has been the case on his past visits to military bases to promote his Iraq policy.

White House and Army officials prohibited reporters from interviewing soldiers before Bush spoke or immediately after his remarks.

For most of his five hours at the post, Bush was surrounded by troops in pale green camouflage uniforms -- first at a lunch, then watching a demonstration of paratrooper training, then shaking the hands of hundreds of young soldiers before Air Force One departed.

With the exception of recruits undergoing basic training, nearly all the soldiers at Ft. Benning have served in Iraq.

One of the few times Bush’s speech was interrupted by applause came when he repeated his goal of seeking overall increases in Army and Marine Corps personnel.

He also told the soldiers he would try to get them “all the resources you need in this war on terror, and that means good equipment and training, good housing.”

“I understand full well, if your family is happy, you’re happy,” he said, sparking laughter by adding, “The same thing in my house, by the way.”

james.gerstenzang@ latimes.com.