Trying to keep a brave face over the growing criticisms against its Iraq policy, Bush said, "America is still a nation at war", adding, "This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in."

In a bid to pull the Democrats to share some responsibilities over the debacles in Iraq war, Bush said, "We went into this largely united, in our assumptions and in our convictions. And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure."

However, he termed the war on terror a "generational struggle" that would "continue long", and asked one more chance in Iraq.

"Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq, and I ask you to give it a chance to work," he said, adding, "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."

Stating that America could not afford to fail in Iraq, Bush took the opportunity to warn the Iraqi government, by saying "our commitment is not open-ended."

Over Afghanistan, Bush said that the Talibans were not driven out of the country, and they have now started retaliating back "We didn't drive al Qaeda out of their safe haven in Afghanistan only to let them set up a new safe haven in a free Iraq," Bush said, adding, " NATO has taken the lead (in Afghanistan) in turning back the Taliban and Al Qaeda offensive".

Though Bush did not utter anything against Pakistan's emergence as a haven for Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists, in spite of a new legislation being passed in the US Congress that calls for changing US policy vis-'-vis Pakistan in the light of the latter's intelligence agencies helping the Taliban to regroup in their tribal territory.

Iran also found references in his speech but had no "evil" adjectives attached to the nation He confined most of his reference to Iran's alleged fuelling the insurgency in Iraq by supporting the Shia radicals.

"Radical Shia elements, some of whom receive support from Iran, formed death squads. The result was a tragic escalation of sectarian rage and reprisal that continues to this day", he said.

On the crucial nuclear threat from Iran, Bush said, "UN has imposed sanctions on Iran, and made it clear that the world will not allow the regime in Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons".

He also emphasized on the use of diplomacy in dealing the "nuclear" North Korea.

"Together with our partners in China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, we're pursuing intensive diplomacy to achieve a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons," he said, indicating that it was for the first time in his presidency that he was addressing the joint session of the US Congress with a majority Democrats.