Washington, D.C. ? With U.S. troops entering their sixth year of combat in Iraq, New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez demanded Saturday that President Bush give an honest assessment of the costs of the conflict.

“The American people are still waiting to hear the straight talk we deserve,” Menendez said in the Democrats’ weekly radio address. “Instead of making more sweeping claims of victory, as he did this week, it’s time for the president to face the reality of the situation we’re in.”

In a speech Wednesday at the Pentagon, Bush said, “The world is better, and the United States of America is safer” because of the war.

“No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure,” Bush said. “But those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq.”