President Bush says Pakistan is taking steps to oust al-Qaida terrorists from their safe haven in tribal areas near the border with Afghanistan.  VOA White House correspondent Scott Stearns reports, opposition Democrats say it is time for the president to start planning for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

Pakistani troops gather at site of suicide bombing in Matta, a town in Swat mountainous area of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan, 15 July 2007

The report attributes the al-Qaida resurgence to a deal that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf made with tribal leaders last year. President Musharraf agreed to withdraw government troops in exchange for a promise that tribal leaders would not allow the Taleban or al-Qaida to use the area.

President Bush says President Musharraf understands that plan was a mistake and is taking active steps to correct it.

President Bush speaks to the media regarding Iraq, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, 20 Jul 2007

Mr. Bush says the new intelligence estimate reminds Americans that they face a persistent and evolving threat from al-Qaida nearly six years after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

"The men who run al-Qaida are determined, capable, and ruthless," he added.  "They would be in a far stronger position to attack our people if America's military, law enforcement, intelligence services, and other elements of our government were not engaged in a worldwide effort to stop them."

The president says American troops must keep fighting al-Qaida terrorists in Iraq to prevent them from striking the United States.

A suspected terrorist is detained by Iraqi Army soldiers as US soldiers search his home in Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, 20 July 2007

Despite that public opposition, and growing discontent within the president's own political party, White House officials appear confident that they have at least until September to change opinions about the war.

That is when the administration next reports to Congress on the progress of the president's decision to send 30,000 additional troops to Iraq.

In the Democratic radio address, Senator Carl Levin says the intelligence estimate shows the war in Iraq is not making America safer, because during that war there has been an increase in terrorist threats.

Levin is sponsoring legislation to force President Bush to start withdrawing U.S. combat troops within 120 days. After an all-night debate this past week, the amendment failed to gain enough votes for passage, despite several Republicans voting for it and several more voicing their concern about the conduct of the war.

Levin says Democratic leaders will force another vote on the bill.

Sen. Carl Levin, (l), accompanied by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., discusses legislation to change the course of the war in Iraq during a news conference on Capitol Hill, 10 July 2007

Levin's legislation would give President Bush until next April to reposition U.S. troops to protect American diplomats, train Iraqi soldiers, and focus more on fighting al-Qaida.

President Bush says he will not decide to withdraw troops from Iraq based on the advice of politicians in Washington. He says it is up to commanders in the field to decide when the fight it won.