U.S. President George Bush has defended his troop surge plan for Iraq in his annual State of the Union address, while also focusing on the need to reduce his country's gasoline usage.
Bush delivered his speech before a Democratic-controlled Congress largely opposed to the war in Iraq, where sectarian violence and an insurgency has claimed more than 3,000 American soldiers.
"This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in," said Bush.
"Every one of us wishes that this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk. Ladies and gentlemen, on this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. So let us find our resolve, and turn events toward victory."
He added that deploying an addition 21,500 troops is necessary to achieve stability in Iraq, and that "the consequences of failure would be grievous and far reaching."
More than 3,000 U.S. troops have died since the war began.
"We are carrying out a new strategy in Iraq, a plan that demands more from Iraq's elected government, and gives our forces in Iraq the reinforcements they need to complete their mission," said Bush.
"Our goal is a democratic Iraq that upholds the rule of law, respects the rights of its people, provides them security, and is an ally in the war on terror."
A new Washington-Post/ABC News poll finds that 65 per cent of Americans oppose the troop surge strategy, up from 61 per cent immediately after his Jan. 10 speech outlining the plan.
Seventy-one per cent of Americans polled also said that the country is on the wrong track and 64 per cent called the war a mistake.
"The great question of our day is whether America will help men and women in the Middle East to build free societies and share in the rights of all humanity. And I say, for the sake of our own security, we must," said Bush.
He also recalled the tragic Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks -- as he had done in previous State of the Union addresses -- and stressed that the threat of more attacks has not faded.
"Every success against the terrorists is a reminder of the shoreless ambitions of this enemy," he said. "The evil that inspired and rejoiced in 9/11 is still at work in the world. And so long as that is the case, America is still a nation at war."
Bush delivered his speech at what may have been the weakest point of his six years in office. The Washington-Post/ABC News poll gives him a job approval rating of just 33 per cent.
At the same time, an Associated Press-AOL News poll finds that six in 10 Americans are not convinced the Bush administration and Democrats in Congress can work together effectively to solve the nation's problems.
Bush calls for reducing gasoline usage
On the domestic front, Bush called for reducing gasoline usage by 20 per cent in the next 10 years, focusing on alternative fuel sources like ethanol, and battery technology for hybrid vehicles.
"For too long, our nation has bee dependent on foreign oil," said Bush. "And this dependence leaves us more vulnerable to hostile regimes and to terrorists."
He added that to reach his reduction goal, "we must increase the supply of alternative fuels by setting a mandatory fuel standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017."
Bush also acknowledged the threat of global warming, arguing that advances in green technology will "help us be better stewards of the environment, and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change."
On health care, Bush proposed what could amount to a tax increase for some 30 million Americans who now have the most expensive health care plans.
At the same time, the proposal allows people to take a tax deduction when they have private health coverage on their own or through an employer.
