Bush backs Petraeus' calls for troop withdrawal freeze
US president George Bush has backed General Petraeus
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Thursday, 10, Apr 2008 07:47
US president George Bush has today backed calls by his leading commander in Iraq to freeze troop withdrawals.
Mr Bush confirmed that the number of US troops in Iraq would be reduced to levels prior to last year's 'surge', but said that an assessment period would then take place over the summer to decide on what action to take next.
The president assured General Petraeus, the commanding officer in Iraq, that he would be granted "all the time he needs" in establishing the military's decision.
Mr Bush was full of praise for the troop 'surge', implemented at the beginning on 2007, which has seen violence in Iraq fall dramatically, claiming a "major strategic shift" had occurred in the country.
"Fifteen months ago, America and the Iraqi government were on the defensive; today, we have the initiative," the president said.
"Fifteen months ago, al-Qaida had bases in Iraq that it was using to kill our troops and terrorize the Iraqi people; today, we have put al-Qaida on the defensive in Iraq, and we're now working to deliver a crippling blow.
"Fifteen months ago, Americans were worried about the prospect of failure in Iraq; today, thanks to the surge, we've renewed and revived the prospect of success."
By July this year, the US plans to have removed the five brigades that were sent out at the beginning of last year, leaving around 140,000 troops in Iraq.
Mr Bush also announced in his statement today that he would be cutting tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from 15 to 12 months, from August 1st.