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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Bush set to reveal Iraq strategy | Bush set to reveal Iraq strategy |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President George W Bush is preparing to unveil his long-awaited strategy for the future of US involvement in Iraq. | US President George W Bush is preparing to unveil his long-awaited strategy for the future of US involvement in Iraq. |
| The president is expected to bolster US forces in the country by sending more than 21,500 extra troops to Baghdad and the restive Anbar province. | The president is expected to bolster US forces in the country by sending more than 21,500 extra troops to Baghdad and the restive Anbar province. |
| But Democrats, who now control both houses of Congress, have made it clear they plan to oppose what they see as an "escalation" of the war in Iraq. | But Democrats, who now control both houses of Congress, have made it clear they plan to oppose what they see as an "escalation" of the war in Iraq. |
| Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has pledged to hold a vote on any increase. | Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has pledged to hold a vote on any increase. |
| Officials say the president will announce the deployment of 17,500 additional troops in the capital, Baghdad - where Iraqi and US forces have launched a fresh offensive against militants. | |
| [The new strategy] really puts the Iraqis in the lead in a way that we haven't seen before Dan BartlettWhite House adviser Taking Vietnam out of Iraq | [The new strategy] really puts the Iraqis in the lead in a way that we haven't seen before Dan BartlettWhite House adviser Taking Vietnam out of Iraq |
| Another 4,000 American troops will go to Anbar province. | Another 4,000 American troops will go to Anbar province. |
| The reinforcements are to be sent over the coming months. | The reinforcements are to be sent over the coming months. |
| The US currently has 132,000 troops stationed in Iraq. | The US currently has 132,000 troops stationed in Iraq. |
| White House adviser Dan Bartlett told the BBC that the aim of the new strategy was to break the cycle of sectarian violence and would put the Iraqi leadership in the lead. | White House adviser Dan Bartlett told the BBC that the aim of the new strategy was to break the cycle of sectarian violence and would put the Iraqi leadership in the lead. |
| "It is going to require them to make the kind of economic political and military decisions that we haven't seen in the past," he said. | "It is going to require them to make the kind of economic political and military decisions that we haven't seen in the past," he said. |
| Mr Bush is expected to recommend the transfer of responsibility for security to the Iraqis for all of the country's 18 provinces. Only three provinces are currently under Iraqi control. | Mr Bush is expected to recommend the transfer of responsibility for security to the Iraqis for all of the country's 18 provinces. Only three provinces are currently under Iraqi control. |
| However analysts say the president will not tie the reinforcements to security benchmarks to be reached by the Iraqi government. | However analysts say the president will not tie the reinforcements to security benchmarks to be reached by the Iraqi government. |
| Mr Bush is also expected to announce an additional $1bn (770m euro, £0.5bn) in funds to strengthen Iraq's battered economy. | Mr Bush is also expected to announce an additional $1bn (770m euro, £0.5bn) in funds to strengthen Iraq's battered economy. |
| 'Symbolic' vote | 'Symbolic' vote |
| Veteran Democratic Party senator Edward Kennedy on Tuesday said sending more soldiers would be "an immense new mistake". | Veteran Democratic Party senator Edward Kennedy on Tuesday said sending more soldiers would be "an immense new mistake". |
| Senator Kennedy is a long-time opponent of the Iraq warHe suggested new legislation requiring congressional approval for any such move. | Senator Kennedy is a long-time opponent of the Iraq warHe suggested new legislation requiring congressional approval for any such move. |
| But the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says many Democrats feel queasy about interfering in military matters - particularly if newly appointed US commanders in Iraq say they need the reinforcements. | But the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says many Democrats feel queasy about interfering in military matters - particularly if newly appointed US commanders in Iraq say they need the reinforcements. |
| The Democrats are likely to settle on symbolic votes of disapproval, our correspondent says. | The Democrats are likely to settle on symbolic votes of disapproval, our correspondent says. |
| However such a move would still be the biggest reconsideration of congressional support for the war since it began, he adds. | However such a move would still be the biggest reconsideration of congressional support for the war since it began, he adds. |
| Mr Bush, whose address will be carried live on all US television networks, is due to speak in Washington at 2100 local time (0200 GMT Thursday). | Mr Bush, whose address will be carried live on all US television networks, is due to speak in Washington at 2100 local time (0200 GMT Thursday). |
| In the UK, Prime Minister Tony Blair declined to say whether he would follow the US lead in increasing troop numbers in Iraq. | In the UK, Prime Minister Tony Blair declined to say whether he would follow the US lead in increasing troop numbers in Iraq. |
| Britain has 7,200 troops in southern Iraq, mostly in the Basra area. | Britain has 7,200 troops in southern Iraq, mostly in the Basra area. |