Bush: Iraq war will require more sacri ce

Expect deaths along with progress, he says

WASHINGTON — With the U.S. military death toll in Iraq poised to surpass 2,000, President Bush on Tuesdayw arned the nation to brace for an even higher casualty count as the mission there has more work to be successful.

“ The terrorists are as brutal an enemy as we have ever faced, unconstrained by any notion of common humanity and by the rules of warfare,” the president said in a speech at a Joint Armed Forces Of * cers’ Wives’ luncheon at Bolling Air Force Base. “ No one should underestimate the dif * culties ahead.”

But, Bush added: “Nor should they overlook the advantages we bring to this * ght. . . . Some observers look at the job ahead and adopt a self-defeating pessimism. It’s not justi * ed.”

The president hailed the announcement in Baghdad that a nationwide election Oct. 15 resulted in the adoption of a new constitution for Iraq. There were some allegations of fraud in the referendum, but election of * cials said the voting was fair.

The charter is considered a major step in Iraq’s democratic reforms, clearing the way for the election of a new, full- term parliament on Dec. 15. Such steps are important in any decision about the future withdrawal of U.S.- led forces.

“ The Iraqis are making inspiring progress toward building a democracy,” Bush said. “ By any standard or precedent of history, Iraq has made incredible political progress, from tyranny to liberation to national elections to the rati * cation of a constitution in the space of 2½ years.”

Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. military announced the deaths of two Marines in * ghting with insurgents last week in Baghdad, bringing to 1,999 the number of American servicemembers the war started in 2003.

“ We’ve lost some of our nation’s * nest men and women in the war on terror,” Bush said. “ A time of war is a time for sacri * ce.”

But he said that pulling out of the mission is not an option.

“ We got more work to do and it involves great risk for Iraqis and for American and coalition forces,” he said.

“ The best wayt o honor the sacri * ce of our fallen troops is to complete the mission and layt he foundation of peace by spreading freedom.” uIraq killed since

By Lawrence Jackson, AP