WASHINGTON -- In his final State of the Union address, President Bush echoed rhetoric and themes from his speech last year and asserted that coalition forces have terrorists on the run. However, he warned that the U.S. must continue fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to keep terrorists at bay, while also keeping an eye on Iran.

Each year stated threats and their solutions have played a prominent role in Bush's State of the Union addresses to Congress. One threat – terrorism -- always seems to pop up.

“The advance of liberty is opposed by terrorists and extremists – evil men who despise freedom, despise America and aim to subject millions to their violent rule,” Bush said Monday.

Democrats tend to agree on that threat, but often have gone different directions in seeking answers.

“We stand ready in the heartland and across this country, to join forces with peace-loving nations across the globe and to fight the war against terrorists, wherever they may strike,” said Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in the Democratic response. “But our capable and dedicated soldiers can't solve the political disputes where they are, and can't focus on the real enemies elsewhere.”

But how have the president’s defense policies and rhetoric evolved through 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the troop surge last year in Iraq? Take a look at the top threats and solutions Bush has proposed in his  eight State of the Union addresses and also a 2001 speech to Congress.

In his only pre-9/11 address, Bush dealt with defense threats near the end of his speech.

“They range from terrorists who threaten with bombs to tyrants in rogue nations intent upon developing weapons of mass destruction,” Bush said.

-- military research and development
-- a move away from Cold War strategy
-- the promotion of American values
-- a better missile defense system

In a special address to a joint session of Congress after 9/11, Bush focused on concerns about terrorism and the possibility of more attacks on U.S. soil.

The Taliban, Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden jumped to the top of his most-wanted list.

“Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom,” Bush said. “Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies.”

-- demands for the Taliban to hand over al Qaeda leaders
-- a multi-lateral and “lengthy campaign” against terrorism
-- condemnation of countries known to harbor terrorists
-- efforts to cut the sources of funding for terrorism
-- increase in homeland defense initiatives

Bush called North Korea, Iran and Iraq the “axis of evil.” He said these countries had the potential to support terrorists still lurking around the world.

-- keep chemical, biological and nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists
-- shut down terrorist training camps outside of Afghanistan
-- unilateral action if necessary
-- a better missile defense system
-- more funding for defense
-- more funding for law enforcement and border control
-- greater participation of Americans in public service

Bush’s speech started out concentrating on the economy, healthcare, energy, poverty and AIDS but spent much of the second half reemphasizing his defense policy.

The hot topics once again were Iran, North Korea and particularly Iraq -- “outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons” that they could use or give to terrorists.

-- preparing vaccines against biological weapons
-- the creation of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center as a place for agencies to centralize their intelligence
-- encouraging the United Nations to take action against Iraq, with an intelligence briefing by Colin Powell
-- the disarmament of Saddam Hussein

Bush said America should be concerned with the remnants of Saddam’s regime and foreign terrorists in Iraq.

Iran and North Korea came up once more, but most of the speech aimed at justifying the War in Iraq.

-- the renewal of the Patriot Act to hunt terrorists and monitor their activities
-- continued manhunt for al Qaeda leaders
-- support new democratic governments in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan
-- promote free elections around the world

The economy and social programs led the top of the address in 2005. Bush said terrorist threats has weakened but remained a concern.

--the training of Iraqi police and army officers
-- the defeat of terrorists in Iraq so that they cannot pose a threat on U.S. soil
-- more coalition building
-- the promotion of democracy
-- more money for peace in Israel and Palestine
-- no timetable for troop withdrawal

Bush said victory in Iraq would weaken Islamic terrorists.

“Their aim is to seize power in Iraq, and use it as a safe haven to launch attacks against America and the world,” he said.

Osama bin Laden and Iran also returned to the discussion.

Bush said defense of the county was entangled in an ideological struggle. He said that if the U.S. left Iraq, the tension between Sunni extremists and Shi’a extremists could go out of control and destabilize the Middle East’s moderate governments.

-- deployment of more troops in a surge
-- removal of conditions that cause hatred of the U.S.
-- recruitment of more U.S. armed forces
-- fighting sectarian violence in Iraq

The second half of the speech focused on foreign policy and defense, but this time Bush spoke more about successes than threats. Even so, the main threats he suggested were again “terrorists and extremists.”

Bush also continued to paint a picture of a dangerous Iran that he said still could be in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. A U.S. intelligence report last year said Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

-- keeping troops in Iraq but putting more responsibilities on Iraqis
-- encouraging Iran to acknowledge and stop any possible wrongdoings
-- renewing efforts to monitor terrorist communications
-- creating a “more compassionate world”