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| US 'must suspend' Iraq withdrawal | US 'must suspend' Iraq withdrawal |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The top US military leader in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has recommended a suspension of troop withdrawals after July to protect gains in Iraq. | The top US military leader in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has recommended a suspension of troop withdrawals after July to protect gains in Iraq. |
| Gen Petraeus praised "significant" but "uneven" improvements in security and said troop levels would need a period of evaluation over the summer. | Gen Petraeus praised "significant" but "uneven" improvements in security and said troop levels would need a period of evaluation over the summer. |
| He also said the recent Iraqi operation in Basra was "not adequately planned". | He also said the recent Iraqi operation in Basra was "not adequately planned". |
| His comments came in a progress report on Iraq, which he and ambassador Ryan Crocker are giving to Congress. | His comments came in a progress report on Iraq, which he and ambassador Ryan Crocker are giving to Congress. |
| They began by testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee then moved on to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. | They began by testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee then moved on to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. |
| In the earlier hearing, Gen Petraeus said security was better than the situation at the time of his last report to Congress in September and significantly better than before the start of the US troop surge at the beginning of last year. | |
| name="upagain"> class="bodl" href="#map">Graph of US troops and military deaths | |
| But he said the situation "remains exceedingly complex and challenging", adding that "the progress, while real, is fragile and is reversible". | |
| Gen Petraeus said the planned drawdown of about 20,000 troops should continue to July but that afterwards there should be a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation". | Gen Petraeus said the planned drawdown of about 20,000 troops should continue to July but that afterwards there should be a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation". |
| "At the end of that period, we will commence a process of assessment to examine the conditions on the ground and, over time, determine when we can make recommendations for further reductions." Our allies, Arab countries, the UN and the Iraqis themselves will not step up to their responsibilities if we recklessly retreat Senator John McCain In quotes: Candidates reactHearing's new urgency | "At the end of that period, we will commence a process of assessment to examine the conditions on the ground and, over time, determine when we can make recommendations for further reductions." Our allies, Arab countries, the UN and the Iraqis themselves will not step up to their responsibilities if we recklessly retreat Senator John McCain In quotes: Candidates reactHearing's new urgency |
| He said he could not say how many US troops would be in Iraq at the end of the year. | He said he could not say how many US troops would be in Iraq at the end of the year. |
| The US has 160,000 troops in Iraq now. | The US has 160,000 troops in Iraq now. |
| Democratic presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, who serves on the committee, said it was time for the "orderly process of withdrawing troops" as Iraqi leaders had failed to deliver. | Democratic presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, who serves on the committee, said it was time for the "orderly process of withdrawing troops" as Iraqi leaders had failed to deliver. |
| She said the Iraq deployment was stretching the military's resources and that the Bush administration was ignoring the costs being incurred by continuing a failed policy. | She said the Iraq deployment was stretching the military's resources and that the Bush administration was ignoring the costs being incurred by continuing a failed policy. |
| At the start of the session, the Republican nominee-in-waiting, John McCain, said there was now a genuine chance of success in Iraq and that a withdrawal could result in a failure that might require the US to return later for a far more costly war. | At the start of the session, the Republican nominee-in-waiting, John McCain, said there was now a genuine chance of success in Iraq and that a withdrawal could result in a failure that might require the US to return later for a far more costly war. |
| "Our allies, Arab countries, the UN and the Iraqis themselves will not step up to their responsibilities if we recklessly retreat," he said. | "Our allies, Arab countries, the UN and the Iraqis themselves will not step up to their responsibilities if we recklessly retreat," he said. |
| Mr McCain also asked Gen Petraeus about the recent Iraqi-led operation against militias in Basra. | Mr McCain also asked Gen Petraeus about the recent Iraqi-led operation against militias in Basra. |
| Gen Petraeus admitted: "There's no question that it could have been better planned... it was not adequately planned or prepared." | Gen Petraeus admitted: "There's no question that it could have been better planned... it was not adequately planned or prepared." |
| Iraq sent thousands of troops to Basra in a failed attempt to force the Shia Mehdi Army militia into submission. Hundreds died in heavy fighting. | Iraq sent thousands of troops to Basra in a failed attempt to force the Shia Mehdi Army militia into submission. Hundreds died in heavy fighting. |
| 'Special groups' | 'Special groups' |
| Ambassador Crocker told the committee there was progress in Iraq, although it was "uneven and often frustratingly slow". | Ambassador Crocker told the committee there was progress in Iraq, although it was "uneven and often frustratingly slow". |
| He said the US and Iraq were negotiating a long-term agreement on their relations that would cover US troop presence. | He said the US and Iraq were negotiating a long-term agreement on their relations that would cover US troop presence. |
| The withdrawal of US troops is a key issue in the presidential campaign | The withdrawal of US troops is a key issue in the presidential campaign |
| He insisted the deal would "not tie the hands of the next administration". | He insisted the deal would "not tie the hands of the next administration". |
| "The agreement will not establish permanent bases in Iraq, and we anticipate that it will expressly foreswear them," he said. | "The agreement will not establish permanent bases in Iraq, and we anticipate that it will expressly foreswear them," he said. |
| Mrs Clinton condemned the decision not to submit the deal to the US Congress. | Mrs Clinton condemned the decision not to submit the deal to the US Congress. |
| Iran came in for condemnation in both testimonies. | Iran came in for condemnation in both testimonies. |
| Gen Petraeus accused it of funding and training Shia militias through cells the US terms "special groups". | Gen Petraeus accused it of funding and training Shia militias through cells the US terms "special groups". |
| In the later Foreign Relations Committee meeting, Mrs Clinton's rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama, repeated his view that the US invasion was a "massive strategic blunder". | |
| He said the US "should be talking to Iran as we cannot stabilise the situation without them". | |
| Mr Obama added: "We are more likely to resolve the situation if we are applying increased pressure... [that] includes a timetable for withdrawal." | |
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