More aggressive, but Bush plan still relies on Iraqis

By Mike McCarthy Jan 11, 2007, 11:59 GMT

Washington - US President George W Bush outlined a more aggressive strategy for Iraq that includes a major increase in US forces but also leans heavily on an Iraqi government that he acknowledged has been an obstacle in the past.

In many ways, Bush's new plan does not appear to be much of a departure from the previous policy. He has tried sending more troops before and has continually pressured the Iraqi government to take more responsibility for security, ending sectarian violence and moving toward reconciliation.

Bush, however, believes this time he will succeed because of new Iraqi assurances and tougher American action to quell the violence. The new plan, he hopes, will speed progress and allow the eventual reduction of US force levels after nearly four years of a conflict that has killed more than 3,000 US troops, lost public support and damaged US credibility.

'Only the Iraqis can end the sectarian violence and secure their people,' Bush said. 'And their government has put forward an aggressive plan to do it.'

Under the plan, the Iraqis will streamline their command structure in Baghdad and will ensure that decisions by commanders are not compromised by the sectarian politics that have undermined confidence in the security apparatus.

The Iraqis also agreed to lift restrictions that prevented American and Iraqi forces from going into hostile parts of Baghdad to confront militants. That effort will be supported by an extra 17,500 US soldiers around the capital.

'Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter these neighbourhoods,' Bush said in his primetime address Wednesday evening, aimed at shoring up public support for the war.

Meanwhile, in another hostile area, Bush said that Sunnis have tuned against al-Qaeda militants who have dominated Anbar province in western Iraq. Bush will aid the crackdown by ordering another 4,000 US troops there.

Bush said he has won new assurances from al-Maliki on disarming militias, local elections to bring disenfranchised groups into the political process and an oil-revenue law to fairly distribute Iraq's resources to Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.

In addition to the surge of US troops, the United States will double the size of the 10 provincial reconstruction teams and pour more money into the Iraqi economy, infrastructure and other public projects.

The United States intends to confront Syria and Iran for allowing insurgents to cross into Iraqi territory and for supporting attacks against US troops, but Bush did not endorse suggestions that he should seek dialogue with Damascus and Tehran, both longtime US foes.

Iraq's government in the past has not lived up to promises to disarm militias, and there is no reason to believe they will this time, which is why Democrats have steadfastly opposed Bush's increases and instead advocate the beginning of a withdrawal.

'When the Iraqis understand that America is not giving an open- ended commitment of support, when they understand that our troops indeed are coming home, then they will understand the day has come to face their own responsibility to protect and defend their nation,' Senator Richard Durbin said.

Bush argues that beginning a withdrawal now will lead to more violence, greatly destabilize the country and extend - not shorten - the length of the US commitment. He acknowledged, though, that if the Iraqi government does not act he might have little choice but to consider the demands of the Democratic opposition.

'I have made it clear to the prime minister and Iraq's other leaders that America's commitment is not open-ended,' Bush said. 'If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people.'