Rumsfeld urges perseverance to finish mission in Iraq

The question is not whether the United States can win the Iraq war, but whether it has the will to persevere, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday.

The strategy to empower Iraqis to govern, rebuild and defend their country has not changed, he said at the 88th annual American Legion national convention at the Salt Palace.

Rumsfeld blasted critics of the war and touted President Bush as strong leader. He reiterated the administration's plan to stay the course in the war on terror.

"We are facing new type of fascism in the world. A new kind of enemy," he said, recalling attacks on New York, Washington, D.C., London, Madrid and Moscow. New weapons are being used by "vicious extremists" who cannot be appeased.

The world is facing threats today of a fundamentally different nature, Rumsfeld said. The recently thwarted terrorist plot in London serves as a reminder that "this enemy is serious, lethal and relentless."

Some Americans have not learned lessons from history. In some quarters, people are trying to divide this country rather than support it, he said.

Rumsfeld said the United States is not what's wrong with the world. "Can we really afford to return to the destructive view that America is the source of the worlds troubles?" he said.

The defense secretary criticized the media portrayal of the Iraq war, saying it coverage is full of myths and distortions. He urged Legionnaires to not let the them go unchallenged.

Legionnaires praised Rumsfeld speech.

"I thought it was very much on target," said Gail Murdock of Maryland. Speaking about the war on terror, he said: "Either we fight them here or we fight them there."

Murdock also said that we don't want another Vietnam, but yet we also don't want terrorists here on U.S. soil again.

Wisconsin resident Bob Batly said Rumsfeld "certainly spoke my mind.

"The war on terrorism is something we have to commit ourselves to."

Echoing Rumsfeld's speech, Batly said that we cannot let the media distort what is really happening over in Iraq. "I don't think they're telling us the entire truth," he said.

Immediately after his remarks at the American Legion convention, Rumsfeld toured two Utah charities that provide humanitarian aid to Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries in crisis.