Bush will vow to accomplish 'grand purposes'

President Bush will pledge to accomplish America’s “grand purposes” in next week’s State of the Union address, White House officials said today.

He hopes to justify a potential war with Iraq, while at the same time laying out a domestic agenda aimed at keeping him in power.

“The president believes that State of the Unions should be about big things,” White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said.

“This State of the Union will describe his vision of what role the United States should play in the world, how to bring help to the American people who need help and compassion, and how to strengthen the economy.”

The January 28 speech to Congress will include a mix of foreign and domestic policies, aides said, and will combine the two with a pledge to accomplish the nation’s “grand purposes”.

Bush began work on the address in December. After one or two more sessions with his speechwriters this month, the final draft was delivered to him at the Camp David presidential retreat over the weekend.

While the domestic agenda is geared towards American voters, the world will be listening closely for clues about his intentions on Iraq.

The State of the Union address comes a day after the UN inspectors report on their initial finding from Iraq to the Security Council.

Senior White House officials said Bush’s remarks on Iraq will be largely shaped by his reaction to the inspectors’ report and any last-minute developments in Baghdad.

“A lot of history has to be made in the next few days,” Fleischer said.