Bush gave his second speech in a series of four speeches today, “to answer criticism and questions about the U.S. presence more two and a half years after the war started.” The speech was hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations.

He spoke to a group of foreign policy experts, many of whom have been critical of his policies. They gave him a cool reception. Some in the audience interrupted to applaud when Bush said the U.S. would not run from Iraq, but most sat stoically during the entire speech.

Bush is shouldering the lowest job approval rating of his presidency, and the latest series of speeches amount to a public relations campaign to respond to political pressure that has mounted as U.S. deaths have eclipsed 2,100. He and other administration officials are working to shore up slumping public support for the war in the run-up to the Dec. 15 vote in Iraq to create a democratically elected government that will run the country for the next four years.

In his speech, Bush reiterated his “we’re making progress” meme.

Dan Froomkin of the WaPo reported yesterday that Bush planned to “cut and run” after his speech today.

Tomorrow, John Kerry will be delivering a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations. His speech is titled “Real Security in the Post-9/11 World.”

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