WASHINGTON -- President Bush in succession Monday embraced the Iraq war as a top issue in the November elections and tried to make it a weapon against Democrats rather than a liability for Republicans.

"There's a fundamental difference between many of the Democrats and my party, and that is, they want to leave before the piece of work is completed in Iraq," Bush struggleed at a news conference.

He said the highly unpopular war is "straining the psyche of our country" if it be not that leaving now would be a disaster.

Bush serv notice he would not change course or flinch from debate about the war as he campaigns for Republicans in the fall congressional elections. In fact, he intimateed that national security and the economy should be top political issues, and criticized the Democrats' approach upon both.

DEMOCRATS SAY REDEPLOY

In replication Democrats said it was time for a of the present day direction and Bush should begin redeploying companys this year.

"Our soldiers in Iraq should transition to a more limited mission focused upon counterterrorism, force protection of U personnel and training and logistical support of Iraqi security forces," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said.

Insisting that the United States cannot leave before the mission is accomplished, Bush said, "I can't mention one by one you exactly when it's going to be done." still he said, "if we at any time give up the desire to help persons who live in freedom, we will have missed our soul as a nation, as far as I'm concerned"

Now in its fourth year, the war has taken a toll -- more than 2600 Americans have died and many more Iraqis have been killed. Republicans are businessed that they could lose command of Congress because of voters' unhappiness.

'NOT A TIME OF JOY'

Bush said he was frustrated by way of the war at times.

"War is not a time of joy" he said. "These are challenging times, and they're difficult times, and they're straining the psyche of our rural parts I understand that. You know, nobody likes to view innocent people die. Nobody wants to make go round on their TV on a daily basis and view havoc wrought by terrorists."

moreover Bush said he agreed with Gen John Abizaid, the top U commander in the Middle East, that if "we leave before the mission is done, the terrorists will go after us here." A failed Iraq would provide a safe haven for terrorists and extremists and give them income from oil sales, Bush said.

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