From Utah, Bush flew to Idaho, where he will spend a couple of days at a resort and also address a National Guard group. Starting with his weekly Saturday radio address, Bush is reminding Americans why it is imperative to stay the course in Iraq and to take the fight against terrorism around the world, White House aides say.

While Bush was articulate Monday in his defense of the war on terror, he proposed no new solutions.

He shied away from even mentioning the topic of setting a timetable to remove U.S. troops from Iraq, something that critics inside and outside of Congress are demanding.

Bush said his administration's three-prong "comprehensive strategy to win this war on terror" is working — protect the homeland, take the fight to the enemy and advance freedom through creating new democracies.

He said the Patriot Act, a comprehensive combining of various criminal investigatory authorities, must be renewed by Congress this year. "It gives our law enforcement officers many of the same tools to fight terrorism that they already have to fight drugs and street crime," Bush said.

The president said Americans must "take the fight to the terrorists abroad before they can attack us here at home. This is the most difficult and dangerous mission in the war."

Since the 9/11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., 1,864 U.S. military personnel have been killed in Iraq, another 223 in Afghanistan, Bush said. He said each is grieved by family and friends; each of these "heroes" left a legacy for liberty.

"We owe them something," Bush said.

"We will finish the task that they gave their lives for. We will honor their sacrifice by staying on the offensive against the terrorists and building strong allies in Afghanistan and Iraq that will help us win and fight — fight and win the war on terror.

"The people of Iraq have made a clear choice. In spite of threats and assassinations, more than 8 million citizens defied the car bombers and killers and voted in free elections." Iraqis are committed to building a secure, free nation, he added.

"Our enemies have no regard for human life. They're trying to hijack a great religion to justify a dark vision. They are trying to shake our will. They kill the innocent. They kill women and children, knowing that the images of their brutality will horrify civilized peoples."

In all their objectives, terrorists try to intimidate Americans and the free world, Bush said.

"And in all their objectives, they will fail."

Recalling other great conflicts, such as World War II, Bush said, "Once again, America has found patriots who are selfless and tireless and unrelenting in the face of danger. Once again, the American people have been steadfast and determined not to lose our nerve."