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WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush on Thursday suspended
further US troop withdrawal from Iraq beyond July and cut Army
combat troops in Iraq from 15 months to 12 months.
After the two decisions, the President endorsed
plans that were proposed by top US commander in Iraq David Petraeus
during his testimony in Capitol Hill in the previous two days
requesting for an additional time to assess whether the US military
can maintain the recent security improvements with fewer US troops
on the ground.
“I told him he’ll have all the time he
needs,” Bush said.
Accepting another recommendation from Petraeus,
Bush said he will reduce combat tours from 15 to 12 months.
However, the shortened tours would apply only to
troops deployed on or after August 1 and would not cutback tours for
those currently in Iraq.
Bush also warned Iran against arming Shiite
militants in Iraq, saying Iran “has a choice to make.”
“If Iran makes the wrong choice, America will
act to protect our interests, our troops and our Iraqi partners,”
he said.
Petraeus recommended that troop withdrawals from
Iraq be paused for 45 days after July when US forces in Iraq will be
reduced to 140,000. But both Petraeus and Bush are uncommitted to
further withdrawals.
The war in Iraq has claimed the lives of more
than 4,000 Americans and cost an estimated $600 billion since 2003.
It is widely unpopular at home, with a CNN poll
in March showing about two-thirds of the country oppose the
conflict. US military leaders have also warned the war has left the
service “out of balance,” with troops strained by extended
deployments and equipment worn by exposure to harsh desert
conditions.
The President’s announcement came after he met
with Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to Iraq, in the White
House.
“American and Iraqi forces have made
significant progress,” Bush said, noting that sectarian violence
is “down dramatically.” “Yet with the surge, a major strategic
shift has occurred. Today we have the initiative.”
-- Xinhua
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