US President George W. Bush admitted on Wednesday that Americans are weary of the Iraq War and defended his decision to send more troops to Iraq before a number of soldiers about to deploy there.

Dozens of camouflage-wearing troops sat quietly at their lunch tables, some joined by family members, as Bush spoke during a visit to a remote base in the high desert of California, where Iraqi-American actors train soldiers to understand Iraq's cultural differences.

"It's a tough war," Bush said in a subdued tone. "The American people are weary of this war."

Bush's comments reflected recognition of the unpopularity of the war, in which more than 3,200 US troops have been killed, as he tries to persuade the Democratic-led US Congress to approve about $100 billion to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan without attaching a withdrawal timetable.

Defending his decision to add about 30,000 extra troops to Iraq, Bush said he wants to bring stability to Baghdad and avoid a spread of the conflict into the region. "I had a choice to make," Bush said.

Helicopter down

Bush's comments came as the US military said an army helicopter with nine personnel on board went down south of Baghdad yesterday, and four personnel were injured.

A statement did not give the cause of the incident or any other details. Witnesses reported seeing heavy gunfire force the aircraft down in an insurgent stronghold near Latifiya, 40 km south of Baghdad.

Witnesses had earlier said the aircraft appeared to be an Apache attack helicopter, but the number of personnel on board indicates it would be a transport helicopter.

"I saw a helicopter in the sky, then I heard heavy gunfire," said one witness. "I saw the helicopter move right and left before landing hard. It did not explode."

Source: China Daily