President George W. Bush went to the chamber of the House of Representatives on January 31 to report on the nation's condition in his annual State of the Union speech.
President Bush asked Americans to continue to support U.S. troops in Iraq, whether or not they agree with the decisions that led up to the war. "We must keep our word, defeat our enemies and stand behind the Amer-ican military," he said.
The President introduced a plan to improve math and science educa-tion by recruiting more teachers and training them better. He also advocated reducing dependence on foreign oil by developing alterna-tive fuels. He wants more health and financial aid programs for those over age 60.
Surveys of Americans show that this is a time of great uncertainty. Many are concerned about Iraq, the economy and government corruption. Fewer than 50% of Americans approve of the way President Bush is doing his job.
Bush acknowledged their uncertainty. "Some-times it can seem that history is turning in a wide arc toward an un-known shore," he said. "We move forward, optimistic about our country, faithful to its cause and confident of the victories to come."