US President George W. Bush admitted today he does not think the war on terror can be won but said it would make it less acceptable for groups to use terrorism as a tool.
New York City Police arrest a Bush protester yesterday
In a US television interview, Mr Bush, who has said he expects the war on terror to be a long, drawn-out battle, was asked: "Can we win it?"
The president replied: "I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the . . . those who use terror as a tool are . . . less acceptable in parts of the world."
Mr Bush said retreating from the war on terror "would be a disaster for your children".
He added: "You cannot show weakness in this world today because the enemy will exploit that weakness. It will embolden them and make the world a more dangerous place."
As the Republican National Convention opens in New York today, Mr Bush is campaigning in New Hampshire, a tiny swing state where a victory is not a sure bet. It's his eighth trip to the state as president.
Four years ago, he won New Hampshire by 7,211 votes. Although Republicans outnumber Democrats among the state's registered voters, more than a third of those registered have yet to declare for one party or the other.