WASHINGTON — Vowing to break the nation's "addiction" to foreign oil, President Bush called yesterday for cutting oil imports from the Middle East by 75 percent over the next 20 years.

"America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world," said Bush, a former Texas oilman, in the annual address to a joint session of Congress. "The best way to break this addiction is through technology."

Independent energy experts noted that only about one-fourth of U.S. oil imports comes directly from the Middle East, so even if Bush's goal is met, America still would be dependent on foreign oil imports to meet its energy needs.

Bush's long-term energy goal was a centerpiece of a State of the Union address that combined soaring rhetoric about America's role in the world with relatively modest policy proposals. Bush vowed to increase production of alternative fuels like ethanol, expand tax breaks for healthcare expenses and train more math and science teachers.

Bowing to budget constraints and political realities, Bush laid out few ambitious goals. He essentially gave up on his plan to overhaul Social Security — his top priority in last year's State of the Union speech — by calling for a bipartisan commission to study changes to the retirement system as part of a broader overhaul of Medicare and Medicaid.

But even as he scaled back his domestic ambitions, Bush reiterated his determination to change the world, focused on the difficult work ahead in Iraq and urged Americans to resist the temptation to turn inward.

"The road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting, yet it ends in danger and decline," Bush said. "The only alternative to American leadership is a dramatically more dangerous and anxious world."

Bush said his long-term goal is "the end of tyranny in our world."

"Some dismiss that goal as misguided idealism. In reality, the future security of America depends on it," he said.

Bush won a standing ovation from lawmakers in both parties by taking a tough line against Iran and Hamas, the terrorist organization that won recent Palestinian elections.

He warned Iran that its support for terrorists "must come to an end" and said other nations cannot let Iran acquire nuclear weapons. He said Hamas "must recognize Israel, disarm, reject terrorism and work for lasting peace."

Bush expressed confidence that democracy is spreading across the globe, noting that more than half of the world lives under some form of democracy.

"And we do not forget the other half — in places like Syria and Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea and Iran — because the demands of justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom as well," he added.

The speech, nearly an hour long, offered a preview of Republican themes for the upcoming elections, and Democrats responded in kind. Their official response, delivered by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, blamed Bush for the return of federal deficits, the slow response to Hurricane Katrina and some of the problems in Iraq.

"We now know that the American people were given inaccurate information about the reason for invading Iraq. We now know that our troops in Iraq were not given the best body armor or the best intelligence," Kaine said.

Bush delivered his remarks with all of the usual political theater in a chamber packed with lawmakers; top administration officials; foreign diplomats in business attire and traditional garb; and Supreme Court justices, including the court's newest members, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel Alito.

Political gamesmanship peaked when Bush mentioned the defeat of his Social Security plan. Democrats interrupted him mid-sentence with mocking applause and a standing ovation.

Republicans got their revenge when the president, wagging his finger, completed his thought by noting that "the rising cost of entitlements is not going away" and is getting worse by the year.

Bush was blunt about the need for action on oil dependence, but his proposal offered no near-term relief from high gasoline prices. The president's plan calls for a 22 percent increase in federal spending for research on ethanol, electric cars and other alternatives to fossil fuels.

"To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy," Bush said. "We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen."

He said his goal is to develop alternatives to the point where they can displace 75 percent of the oil that's now imported from the Middle East.