Iraq withdrawal to halt in July

2008-04-10 19:03

Washington - Five years after Baghdad fell, US President George W Bush said on Thursday Iraq was still too fragile to draw down US forces fighting the vastly unpopular war to below 140 000 troops.

The US leader announced that he would complete a limited withdrawal of US forces from Iraq in July, then freeze any further draw-downs to enable military commanders to review the war effort.

In a televised speech defending his handling of the unpopular conflict, Bush said he had told the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, that he "will have all the time he needs" to carry out that review.

Bush's announcement, seven months before the November US elections, confirms that whoever succeeds the US leader in January 2009 will have to decide whether and how to end the bloody conflict that casts a long shadow over his legacy.

Bush said: "General Petraeus reported that security conditions have improved enough to withdraw all five brigades by the end of July. That means by July 31, the number of US combat brigades in Iraq will be down by 25% from last year.

"Beyond that General Petraeus says he will need time to consolidate his forces ... I told him that he will have all the time he needs."

One year service

Bush also said that the draw-down and improved security in Iraq meant that active duty US soldiers deployed starting in August would see their tours cut from 15 months to one year, with at least one year off before going back.

"I have directed the secretary of defence to reduce the deployment lengths from 15 months to 12 months for all active army soldiers to the Central Command area of operations," Bush said.

Democrats, including White House hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, have stepped up calls to bring more US troops home, and said Bush's only strategy is to hand off the conflict to his successor.

But Bush dismissed such criticisms from Democrats, who said freezing the troop withdrawals would be committing the United States to an open-ended engagement in Iraq.

"None of our operations in Iraq will be on hold," he vowed. "Instead we will use the months ahead to take advantage of the opportunities created by the surge. And continue operations across the board."

Warning to Iran

The US president hinted in an earlier interview with the Weekly Standard magazine at possible withdrawals beyond July, saying: "Do I hope that we can continue 'return on success?' Yes, I do hope so. Do I guarantee it? No, I don't."

The US president said this would help "handle this issue of stress" on the US armed forces - but it could also ease some of the political stress on his fellow Republicans, who fear the war will cost them dearly at the ballot box.

Bush also warned Iran in his speech that it faced a "choice" on Iraq and said the US would act to defend its interests.

"If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests. And our troops. And our Iraqi partners," he warned.

- AFP