AOL

American success in Iraq will merit the sacrifice of the 4,000 US military deaths there, President George Bush has said.

The president's comments came as the grim milestone was reached less than a week after the fifth anniversary of the war.

Mr Bush said every life was "precious" as the White House added that the president bore "the responsibility for the decisions that he made".

As US presidential candidates debate the future of the conflict and whether America should bring its troops home, the US death toll rose to 4,000 when four US soldiers were killed after their patrol was attacked in southern Baghdad on Easter Sunday.

Mr Bush said: "Whether they were the first ones who lost their life in Iraq, or recently lost their life in Iraq, every life is precious.

"I guess my one thought I want to leave with those who still hurt is that one day people will look back at this moment in history and say 'Thank God there were courageous people willing to serve' because they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come."

He went on: "I have vowed in the past, and I will vow so long as I am president, to make sure that those lives were not lost in vain - in fact, there is an outcome that will merit that sacrifice."

Earlier, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters the milestone was "a sober moment". She said the president spends time every day thinking about those who have lost their lives in battle.

"He bears the responsibility for the decisions that he made. He also bears the responsibility to continue to focus on succeeding," she said.

Ms Perino said families of the fallen soldiers often told the president that they wanted him to complete the mission in Iraq.