In his first full press conference in four months, President Bush vowed the U.S. would stay in Iraq despite the increasing resistance to the U.S. occupation. When he was asked if the number of U.S. troops would be reduced over the next year, he refused to answer saying it was a “trick question.”

He also claimed yesterday that: “The world is more peaceful and more free under my leadership.” He repeatedly characterized the resistance within Iraq as orchestrated by terrorists. This despite public opinion polls in Iraq that there is widespread opposition to the U.S. occupation. He said the recent string of bombings in Baghdad represent “the same mentality… that attacked us on September the 11th, 2001.”

He was also forced to defend his May 1 appearance aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln where he said “the battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror” while he stood in front of a banner that read “Mission Accomplished.” Yesterday he claimed the ship’s large banner that read “Mission Accomplished” was only meant to indicate the mission of the members of the returning ship had been accomplished, not the U.S. military. He said the sign was put up by members of the USS Abraham Lincoln. After the press conference White House press secretary Scott McClellan admitted that the White House produced the sign but he said it had been requested by members of the ship.

Yesterday’s press conference was only Bush’s 10th of his term. No president in the last 50 years has held fewer press conferences during their first 2 and a half years in office.