Bush gave a speech on his strategy in Iraq at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, making the case for staying the course there.

But the top House Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, not only remained unconvinced, but she endorsed Wednesday a controversial proposal by a senior member of her party, calling for an quick pullout of US troops from Iraq.

Pelosi backed the withdrawal resolution proposed by Representative John Murtha, a staunchly pro-military former marine who shocked the Washington political establishment with his troop pullout resolution nearly two weeks ago.

"I'm endorsing what Mr. Murtha is saying, which is that the status quo is not working and that we need to have a plan that makes us safer and our military stronger and makes Iraq more stable," Pelosi said at a press conference.

"I believe that what he has said has great wisdom. While the president is digging a hole, Mr. Murtha is speaking from the light of day about the realities in Iraq," she said.

In his speech, Bush defiantly refused to set a date for a US pullout and warning that victory requires "time and patience." But leading Democrats hammered the address speech as rehashed remains of a failed administration policy.