Washington ? President Bush departed Sunday from his practice of not commenting on particular setbacks in Iraq and acknowledged it had been “a tough week.”

“We’re going to stay tough and deal with the terrorists,” Bush said, amid rising questions from Democrats about whether his approaching re-election race will drive a reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq.

Bush typically ignores the cluster of journalists who watch Marine One drop him off on the White House South Lawn after weekends at Camp David.

But Sunday, he approached the microphones somberly, and with no coaxing.

“Today, I spent some time in prayer for our servicemen and women who are in harm’s way,” he said before answering questions. “I prayed for their families, I prayed for those who are still in harm’s way, whether it be American troops or coalition troops.”

Asked about Saturday’s chopper crash, which killed 17 soldiers and was the worst single loss of U.S. life since the invasion of Iraq, Bush said: “It’s sad. It’s a sad day when we lose life. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in a chopper crash or an IED (improvised explosive devices), the loss of life is sad.”

His seven-minute remarks reflected the view of some aides that as casualties mount, he takes a risk by remaining silent, as he did after the Nov. 2 downing of a Chinook helicopter that killed 16 soldiers.

Bush said the plan, formalized Saturday, to turn the U.S. occupation over to a provisional national assembly by July 1 “makes sense.”

“In Iraq, it was a tough week, but we made progress toward a sovereign and free Iraq,” he said.

Bush did not commit to any specific stay. “We’re not leaving until the job is done, pure and simple,” he said. He said the United States would not be run out by developments like the broadcast Sunday of a purported audiotape of Saddam Hussein, which he called “propaganda.”

“I’m sure he would like to see us leave,” Bush said. “In fact, it’s his voice. And I know that elements of the Baathist Party — those who used to torture, maim and kill in order to stay in power — would like to see us leave. We will do our job.”