Bush expected to defend Iraq policy in address

Delivering his first State of the Union address to a Democratic-controlled Congress, US President George Bush hopes to balance a rebuke of his Iraq policy already promised by lawmakers with a high-profile invitation to cooperate on vexing domestic problems.

In tonight’s speech before a joint session of Congress, Bush plans to dangle ideas – some new, some recycled – on reducing America’s oil dependence and making health care more available, among others.