WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on President Bush's address today to the United Nations General Assembly in New York:

"Today we heard more of the same rhetoric from a desperate President Bush who is worried more about his party's political prospects this November than about how to protect America and fight and win the real war on terror. The president's freedom agenda has been replaced by the era of incompetence. The Bush Administration's policies, including the disastrous handling of the Iraq War, have hurt America's credibility around the world and at home. The president and the Republican-controlled Congress took their eye off the ball by focusing on Iraq and letting North Korea and Iran grow stronger. After invading Iraq without UN support, President Bush now finds UN member countries wary of U.S. proposals on a range of issues from ending the genocide in Darfur to disarming Iran's nuclear program. President Bush and the Republicans' commitment to their failed foreign policies have stripped away our credibility with other nations, making America and the world less safe.

"At the same time, Republicans in Congress have rubber-stamped the president's failed agenda and repeatedly blocked Democratic attempts to keep our country safe. Americans are looking for new leadership and a new direction in America's foreign policy that's both tough and smart."