Bush defends troop build-up in Iraq

President Bush today defended his build-up of forces in Iraq and pledged to “hang in there” with Iraqis despite calls from Congress to get troops home.

At an Asia-Pacific summit in Sydney, Australia, Bush gave no indication he planned to reverse the build-up of 30,000 extra US troops anytime soon. That increase is set to end in the spring, and while some troop adjustments could be on the horizon, Bush said nothing to indicate he would end it early.