US president remains optimistic

Washington: President George W. Bush took his critics to task yesterday for using the poor marks the Iraqi government received on a progress report this week as reason to argue that the war is lost.

Bush acknowledged the Iraqis received "unsatisfactory" marks on eight benchmarks, including failure to prepare for local elections or to pass a law to share oil revenues among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.

But the president said "satisfactory" grades the Iraqis received in eight other areas - like providing three Iraqi brigades for the military offensive under way and providing $10 billion (Dh36.7 billion) of their money for reconstruction - were cause for optimism.

"Our strategy is built on the premise that progress on security will pave the way for political progress," Bush said in his radio address. "The best way to start bringing these good men and women home is to make sure the surge succeeds."