Bush in Iraq defends war, and his legacy

That pressure led Iraqi negotiators to demand a firm withdrawal date from the United States during months of talks over the Status of Forces Agreement, which was approved by Iraq's parliament Nov. 27 and will govern the U.S. troop presence as of Jan. 1. The pact mandates that American combat troops leave cities by June 30 and that all U.S. forces be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.

Fierce debate, including a near-brawl in parliament, preceded the approval as opponents warned that it could be manipulated to extend the U.S. presence. Maliki got the votes he sought only after promising a national referendum in July that could force his government to cancel the pact if voters oppose it. But in a sign of confidence in the agreement, Bush and Maliki signed the document Sunday.

The Iraq war plays a key role in defining Bush's legacy and is largely responsible for the plunge in his public support to historically low levels. Yet, as he took this final lap, Iraq has become a relative bright spot in his foreign policy record. Although military leaders emphasize that the situation in Iraq could still revert to mayhem, it has nonetheless grown more stable.

Daily attacks, which once numbered in the dozens, now average about four, U.S. officials say. Meanwhile, the administration's efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea, along with Bush's campaign to promote Arab-Israeli peace, are deteriorating or gridlocked.

The Baghdad visit comes in a month when the White House has been pressing a public campaign to advance its view that Bush is leaving behind a stronger record of accomplishment than widely thought. On Dec. 5, Bush delivered a speech in which he declared that he was leaving the Middle East a more hopeful place -- a judgment that many would dispute.

"His wrong acts eventually divided the people of Iraq into sects, political entities and blocs, and as a consequence we are unable to reestablish our state," said Usama Najafi, a lawmaker with the secular Iraqi National List coalition in parliament. Najafi blamed Bush for Iranian interference in Iraq, saying the U.S. presence had given Iran an excuse to send weapons to anti-U.S. militias.

"We cannot rebuild our country because of the fragile base which was formed on mistakes, and even President Bush is unable to convince the international community of the reasons behind his policy in Iraq," Najafi said.