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Bush hails 'major shift' in Iraq Bush hails 'major shift' in Iraq
(about 2 hours later)
US President George W Bush has declared a "major strategic shift" in Iraq following the US troop surge. President George W Bush has declared a "major strategic shift" in Iraq following the US troop surge.
He said the US now held the initiative and was looking to deliver a "crippling blow" to al-Qaeda. He said the US now held the initiative and was looking to deliver a "crippling blow" to al-Qaeda in the country.
US troop levels in Iraq are due to be reduced by about 20,000 by July, but Mr Bush said after that, the "drawdown" process would be frozen. US troop levels in Iraq are now due to be reduced by about 20,000 by July, but Mr Bush said after that, the "drawdown" process would be frozen.
Then, he said, senior commander General David Petraeus would have "all the time he needs" to assess the next step.Then, he said, senior commander General David Petraeus would have "all the time he needs" to assess the next step.
Gen Petraeus had called for a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation" after July, before any more troops left.Gen Petraeus had called for a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation" after July, before any more troops left.
Mr Bush said: "I strongly support that. And therefore I won't commit beyond July."
Graph of US troops and military deaths Graph of US troops and military deaths
Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton said the announcement left the main question unanswered: "What is the endgame in Iraq?" Mr Bush said: "I strongly support that. And therefore I won't commit beyond July."
Signs of progressSigns of progress
The president said that since the launch of the US troop surge 15 months ago, there had been significant military, political and economic progress in Iraq, and that "today we have the initiative".The president said that since the launch of the US troop surge 15 months ago, there had been significant military, political and economic progress in Iraq, and that "today we have the initiative".
Today, thanks to the surge, we've renewed and revived the prospect of success US President George W Bush Read a transcript of President Bush's speech [24k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereToday, thanks to the surge, we've renewed and revived the prospect of success US President George W Bush Read a transcript of President Bush's speech [24k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
He said sectarian violence had decreased, and Iraqis were increasingly turning against al-Qaeda. Meanwhile businesses were reopening and national laws were being passed.He said sectarian violence had decreased, and Iraqis were increasingly turning against al-Qaeda. Meanwhile businesses were reopening and national laws were being passed.
By July the US presence should be reduced from 20 brigades to 15 - leaving about 140,000 troops in Iraq, about the same number as were present before the surge began in early 2007.By July the US presence should be reduced from 20 brigades to 15 - leaving about 140,000 troops in Iraq, about the same number as were present before the surge began in early 2007.
Mr Bush is portraying the withdrawal as a sign of the success of the surge, and is trying to make as much capital from it as possible, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in Baghdad.Mr Bush is portraying the withdrawal as a sign of the success of the surge, and is trying to make as much capital from it as possible, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in Baghdad.
But by referring to a "major strategic shift" he has used language that Gen Petraeus and US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker have deliberately avoided, our correspondent adds.But by referring to a "major strategic shift" he has used language that Gen Petraeus and US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker have deliberately avoided, our correspondent adds.
Gen Petraeus said the situation in Iraq was still unsatisfactoryGen Petraeus said the situation in Iraq was still unsatisfactory
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates later emphasised that he expected the drawdown to resume later in the year.
"The hope, depending on conditions on the ground, is to reduce our presence further this fall," he said.
Mr Bush also said he was cutting tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from 15 to 12 months, effective from 1 August, and that service personnel would have a year at home for every year served overseas.Mr Bush also said he was cutting tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from 15 to 12 months, effective from 1 August, and that service personnel would have a year at home for every year served overseas.
The decision to halt withdrawals means the US presence in Iraq is likely to last well beyond January, when Mr Bush will leave office and a new president will take over.The decision to halt withdrawals means the US presence in Iraq is likely to last well beyond January, when Mr Bush will leave office and a new president will take over.
Iraq is one of the key battlegrounds of the election campaign, with Republican John McCain arguing for continued engagement while Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama call for full withdrawal.Iraq is one of the key battlegrounds of the election campaign, with Republican John McCain arguing for continued engagement while Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama call for full withdrawal.
Progress Optimistic
Mr Bush said the two main threats to US progress in Iraq were al-Qaeda and Iran. Mr Bush said the two main threats to US progress in Iraq were al-Qaeda and "the destructive influence of Iran", and that US failure would allow both to increase their influence in the region.
He said US failure would allow both to increase their influence in the region. However, he insisted the outlook was optimistic, saying: "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."
"Al-Qaeda would claim a propaganda victory of colossal proportions," while "our failure would embolden [Iran's] radical leaders and fuel their ambitions to dominate the region", Mr Bush said.
Instead, the president said: "We have put al-Qaeda 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."
Democratic leaders welcomed Mr Bush's shortening of combat tours, but said keeping troops committed to Iraq was unacceptable.Democratic leaders welcomed Mr Bush's shortening of combat tours, but said keeping troops committed to Iraq was unacceptable.
The speech "can only be described as one step forward and two steps back," said the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Harry Reid. name="map"> The speech "can only be described as one step forward and two steps back," said the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Harry Reid.
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