Middle East News
Bush: 8,000 troops to leave Iraq by February (3rd Roundup)
Sep 9, 2008, 19:53 GMT
Washington - The United States will withdraw an additional 8,000 troops from Iraq by February, US President George W Bush announced Tuesday, citing a sustained drop in violence that will allow a greater shift of resources to Afghanistan.
The pullout will reduce the US presence to about 138,000 soldiers shortly after Bush leaves office in January, with his successor handling the next major pullout decisions.
Meanwhile, a Marine battalion previously slated to arrive in Iraq in November will instead head to Afghanistan, which has become increasingly violent during the last year, and US and NATO forces seek to counter a resurgent Taliban.
'As we learned in Iraq, the best way to restore the confidence of the people is to restore basic security, and that requires more troops,' Bush said, adding that another Army combat brigade will arrive in Afghanistan in January.
Bush attributed the success in Iraq to the more than 20,000 soldiers he ordered into that country in January 2007 to quell rising sectarian violence and bloodshed.
He also credited the buildup of viable Iraqi forces, the political progress made by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government in Baghdad, and the decision of Iraq's Sunni tribals in al-Anbar province to turn against al-Qaeda.
'While the enemy in Iraq is dangerous, we have seized the offensive - Iraqi forces are becoming increasingly capable of leading and winning the fight,' Bush said in an address at the National Defence University in Washington.
General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, recommended the reduction as violence over the last several months has stayed down and a 'degree of durability' had been established, Bush said, but also cautioned the situation in Iraq remained 'fragile' and the US must maintain a policy of 'return on success.'
But Bush's reduction in forces fell well short of demands by Democrats who sought a drop in greater numbers and more quickly.
Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama, who has tried to tie Bush's policy to the Republican candidate, John McCain, said the latest move by the White House still fails to set timetables and sends the wrong signal to the Iraqi government.
'In the absence of a timetable to remove our combat brigades, we will continue to give Iraq's leaders a blank cheque instead of pressing them to reconcile their differences,' Obama said.
Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in Afghanistan have stepped up attacks on coalition forces and civilians in the country since the spring as violence reached its highest level in years. Bush said the US and NATO allies need to send more troops to Afghanistan because 'the security situation changed.'
Earlier this summer, the US military cut Iraq combat tours from 15 months to 12 months, with the expiration of the 16-month surge.
McCain advocated a troop buildup in Iraq long before Bush's order and fought Democratic attempts in the Senate to impose a timeline for withdrawals. He has strongly backed Bush's approach.
McCain said Bush's announcement showed the strategy in Iraq is working and called Obama's demands for a timeframe 'reckless.'
'Senator Obama is utterly confused by the progress in the war in Iraq,' McCain said. 'He has minimized the success of the surge in stabilizing Iraq, but today said the reductions in violence exceeded expectations.'
Obama faulted Bush for responding too late in Afghanistan: 'His plan comes up short - it is not enough troops, and not enough resources, with not enough urgency.'
Meanwhile, the Bush administration and Iraqi government continue to negotiate agreements to establish the legal basis for the presence of the US military in Iraq after a UN mandate expires in December.
The two sides are believed to be closer to reaching a deal although they have differed over whether US troops should have legal immunity and demands by the Iraqi government for a withdrawal of all coalition combat forces.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Middle East
- 1. Jerusalem prelate tells Arab Spring youth to have confidence
- 2. More than 100 killed in Syria ahead of ceasefire deadline
- 3. At least 43 killed in Syria, despite UN criticism
- 4. 19 killed in Syria as ceasefire deadline approaches
- 5. Pilgrims flock to Jerusalem for Easter, Passover
Older Talkback
page: 1
I did so want to see him Nuke Iran...
Ain't it wierd how everything Obama talks about wanting to do, w does?!!?
Either O is clairvoyant, or w is trying to undermine him. Which do you think?
GW is a doer, not a talker.
Iraq?
Win.
Afghanistan
Win
Legislation?
Win.
run out crooked congressmen on both sides?
win.
secure relationship with Europe and our Allies?
Win.
Confront our fores like N. Korea
win.
set records for employment, tax receipts, GDP growth, household wealth
win.
don't wag in the press, don't listen to the liberals, they have nothing to offer except undermine you. Don't listen to polls, the real poll comes every 4 years. Don't worry about a legacy, because facts are stubborn things. Be polite.
Daddy taught him well.
GW is a doer, not a talker.
Iraq?
Win. ( 2 million iraqis dead, 4 million refugess, country in total chaos, jobeless rate at 70%, 8 millions below absolute poverty and all this in a country of 27 millions pre invasion, unknown current population!, and now even the goverment he placed therE tellS him to leave ASAP)
Afghanistan
Win ( yup he is still winning,how many years now???...... mission acomplish here too........thats why he needs more troops and all the rest of NATO wont give him none!)
Legislation?
Win.( yup all laws that help the very rich and corporations passed, all the don't stoped by his PRESIDENTIAL VETO POWER!)
run out crooked congressmen on both sides?
win.( yup, all his associates that were actually caught on the act sagged, and went home, no real punishment, and now have time to spend their money freely!)
secure relationship with Europe and our Allies?
Win.( sure ALL NATO IS BEHIND HIM AT EVERY TURN OF THE ROAD!)
Confront our fores like N. Korea
win.( YUP.........THE REAL KOREAN WAR ENDED DECADES AGO AND HE WAS STILL FIGHTING........)
set records for employment, tax receipts, GDP growth, household wealth
win.( YUP ALL THE WAY, THE ECONOMY IS BOOMING!)
don't wag in the press, don't listen to the liberals, they have nothing to offer except undermine you. Don't listen to polls, the real poll comes every 4 years. Don't worry about a legacy, because facts are stubborn things. Be polite.
(YUP, HE REALLY DIDN'T LISTEN TO ANYONE OTHER THAN HIS NEOCON FRIENDS, AND NEVER WORRIED ABOUT THE FACTS!)
Daddy taught him well.
(YUP, HE IS EVEN WORST THAN HIS DADDY!)
hmmmm..........Sep 10th, 2008 - 02:06:50
GW is a doer, not a talker.
Iraq?
Win. ( 2 million iraqis dead, 4 million refugess, country in total chaos, jobeless rate at 70%, 8 millions below absolute poverty and all this in a country of 27 millions pre invasion, unknown current population!, and now even the goverment he placed therE tellS him to leave ASAP)
sp4 - didn't you hear, even Obama has to admit success. Pelosi did to.. ooooh! Burn!
Afghanistan
Win ( yup he is still winning,how many years now???...... mission acomplish here too........thats why he needs more troops and all the rest of NATO wont give him none!)
sp4 - no prob...we have plenty of troops coming out of the victory in Iraq...success just keeps on coming. Were you one of those pining for defeat?
Legislation?
Win.( yup all laws that help the very rich and corporations passed, all the don't stoped by his PRESIDENTIAL VETO POWER!)
sp4 - Intel bill - passed. Budgets - passed - Iraq funding - passed How can you be a loser when you keep winning.
run out crooked congressmen on both sides?
win.( yup, all his associates that were actually caught on the act sagged, and went home, no real punishment, and now have time to spend their money freely!)
sp4 - his associates were innocent, I was refering to guys like Willy Jefferson
secure relationship with Europe and our Allies?
Win.( sure ALL NATO IS BEHIND HIM AT EVERY TURN OF THE ROAD!)
sp4 - in Afghanistan, Poland and missile defense, sanctions on Iran...boo hoo
Confront our fores like N. Korea
win.( YUP.........THE REAL KOREAN WAR ENDED DECADES AGO AND HE WAS STILL FIGHTING........)
SP4 - Technically, the N. Koreans will tell you they are in a state of war with the United States...time to grow up.
set records for employment, tax receipts, GDP growth, household wealth
win.( YUP ALL THE WAY, THE ECONOMY IS BOOMING!)
sp4 - 3.2% GDP for the May/June timeframe. Try reading...it's easy. Record tax earnings, employment and growth over the previous presidents.
don't wag in the press, don't listen to the liberals, they have nothing to offer except undermine you. Don't listen to polls, the real poll comes every 4 years. Don't worry about a legacy, because facts are stubborn things. Be polite.
(YUP, HE REALLY DIDN'T LISTEN TO ANYONE OTHER THAN HIS NEOCON FRIENDS, AND NEVER WORRIED ABOUT THE FACTS!)
sp4 - thats why we love him...neocons...after all, why listen to Harry Reid...?
Daddy taught him well.
(YUP, HE IS EVEN WORST THAN HIS DADDY!)
sp4 - well, he certainly learned al the lessons.
Bush justs keeps on going. Don't go away mad, just go away.
You conservatives are funny as hell. When it comes to Iraq and causing the deaths of millions of people-'they needed our help to overthrow the government, liberate the people and spread democracy'(translated-'they have oil and we like oil). But when it comes to Cuba and just helping with hurricane relief-'they have been against us for years and I blame the people. If the people wanted a new government they would just rise up and do it by themselves'(translation “they aint got no oil, so why help them')
Good old Christians aren’t you? (translation-hypocrite racist rednecks who are not getting called what you are because the other side is made of a bunch of wussies who wont call you out)
page: 1
SP4: he'sSep 9th, 2008 - 20:17:52
...gone in January...
L
O
L
Report this comment