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Although still not conceding any ground to Democrats angered over his assertion Monday that the Senate is "not interested in the security of the American people," President Bush moved to mend some fences Thursday, even while offering no apologies for the statement.

"The security of our country is the commitment of both political parties and the responsibility of both elected branches of government," Bush said during a Rose Garden appearance. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Wednesday demanded an apology for Bush's statement on Monday. When asked if Bush stood by that statement, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said the president believes that if the Senate does not pass the Homeland Security Department bill, "the security of our country will not have been protected."

Thursday's hastily staged, last-minute event, which was not on Bush's schedule Wednesday evening, included a bipartisan delegation of House members who support Bush's proposed resolution on Iraq and are working to gin up a huge majority for it in the House.

"All of us, and many others in Congress, are united in our determination to confront an urgent threat to America," Bush said. The lawmakers, led by House Chief Deputy Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., had just met with Bush in the Cabinet Room to map out a strategy. Afterward, Blunt predicted a strong majority for the resolution with significant Democratic support. Blunt said the matter could be on the floor next week - or the following week at the latest.

Bush's remarks were made at the same time as a news conference that Democratic leaders had planned with live TV coverage. Bush spoke shortly after House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., said the administration must "take security out of politics," saying a bitter partisan fight complicates efforts to find unity on Iraq.

Meanwhile, a senior administration official said Thursday the Pentagon is preparing to train at least 1,000 Iraqi opponents of Saddam to assist U.S. troops in the event of an Iraqi assault, the Associated Press reported. The Pentagon is waiting for Bush to sign a directive that would authorize the training under the 1998 Iraq Liberation act. Bush Thursday also asserted that there are al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq. Iraq, he said "with fissile material, could build a nuclear bomb within a year."

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