IPSOS POLL FOUND THAT 59 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC BELIEVED THE DECISION TO INVADE IRAQ WAS A MISTAKE. DESPITE PRESSURE FROM DEMOCRATS TO REDEPLOY U.S. FORCES BY THE END THE YEAR, BUSH URGED PATIENCE AND OFFERED NO TIMETABLE FOR A WITHDRAWAL OF THE 131,000 U.S. SOLDIERS NOW IN IRAQ. "I'VE TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE I'D LIKE TO GET OUR TROOPS OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BUT THE DEFINITION OF 'AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,' IS DEPENDING UPON VICTORY IN IRAQ ... AND VICTORY IN IRAQ IS A COUNTRY THAT CAN SUSTAIN ITSELF, GOVERN ITSELF AND DEFEND ITSELF." "I DO NOT WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO THINK THAT A WAR IS WON WITH THE DEATH OF ONE PERSON," BUSH MAINTAINED.
