Bush embraces military

Veterans of foreign wars warmly welcomed Mr Bush

By Paul Reynolds in Washington

The Republican candidate in the American presidential election, George W Bush, has said that if elected he will build up the military power of the United States.

In a speech giving more details about his policy aims, he told veterans in Wisconsin that "help was on the way".

Repairing what Republicans see as weaknesses in the American military is one of the themes of the Bush campaign.

In his speech he listed shortcomings in maintenance, morale and recruitment as signs of a military in decline.

He promised that he and his vice-presidential running-mate, the former defence secretary Dick Cheney, would do something about it.

"Dick Cheney and I have a simple message today for men and women in uniform, their parents, their loved ones, their supporters," Mr Bush said. "Help is on the way."

Nato enlargement

Mr Bush has also sent a letter to Lithuanian Americans, saying that the expansion of Nato to include other nations with democratic values should continue.

Russia should not have a veto on Nato enlargement, he said, but he added that he did not see Russia as an enemy.

He did not mention any of the Baltic states specifically, but said that the new European democracies should become fully integrated into the institutions of the transatlantic community.

He therefore is holding out the option of membership for the Baltic states, and others, without giving a commitment.