WASHINGTON, Dec 24: In a Christmas message to his troops, US President George W. Bush has promised that “the coming year will bring change” in Iraq. “This Christmas season comes at a time of change here in our Nation's capital -- with a new Congress set to arrive, a review of our Iraq strategy underway, and a new Secretary of Defence taking office,” said Mr Bush.

But the message also indicated that Mr Bush’s desire to ultimately achieve a victory in Iraq has not changed despite advice from US lawmakers, defence experts and think-tank gurus that such a victory is no more possible.

“I want our troops to know that while the coming year will bring change, one thing will not change, and that is our Nation’s support for you and the vital work you do to achieve a victory in Iraq,” he said.

President Bush is scheduled to announce his new strategy for Iraq early next year after considering several reports that range from urging him to call back the troops to sending more soldiers to augment the US presence in the Arab country.

Mr Bush is spending the Christmas weekend at the presidential retreat near Washington. On Dec 26, Mr Bush flies to his Texas ranch, where he'll be until Jan. 1.

The president is considering adding thousands of US troops to the 140,000 already in Iraq as a way to control escalating violence, particularly in Baghdad. But that is only one of several options for what is expected to be a multi-pronged new Iraq strategy that the White House said Mr Bush would unveil sometime between the New Year and his Jan. 23 State of the Union address.

"If you're serving on the front lines halfway across the world, it is natural to wonder what all this means for you," the president said in his weekly radio address.

“America is blessed to have fine citizens who volunteer to defend us in distant lands. For many of them, this Christmas will be spent far from home, and on Christmas our Nation honours their sacrifice, and thanks them for all they do to defend our freedom,” he said.

Before leaving Baghdad, Secretary Gates said he had concluded from his talks with Iraqi leaders that improved security is possible "with them in the lead." Gen George Casey, top US commander in Iraq, was expected to work out some of those details with Iraq's political leadership in the days ahead, Mr Gates said.