This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6250625.stm
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bush boosts troop numbers in Iraq | Bush boosts troop numbers in Iraq |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has said he will send more than 20,000 extra troops to Iraq, as part of a new strategy for tackling the conflict. | US President George W Bush has said he will send more than 20,000 extra troops to Iraq, as part of a new strategy for tackling the conflict. |
| In a live televised address, Mr Bush said the deployment would help break the cycle of violence and hasten the day US troops are able to come home. | In a live televised address, Mr Bush said the deployment would help break the cycle of violence and hasten the day US troops are able to come home. |
| He said the situation in Iraq was unacceptable, and that responsibility for mistakes rested with him. | He said the situation in Iraq was unacceptable, and that responsibility for mistakes rested with him. |
| However, the announcement brought immediate criticism from Democrats. | However, the announcement brought immediate criticism from Democrats. |
| Responding to the address, Senator Dick Durbin said US troops should be withdrawn and the Iraqis left to meet the challenges ahead on their own. | Responding to the address, Senator Dick Durbin said US troops should be withdrawn and the Iraqis left to meet the challenges ahead on their own. |
| "The American people want a change of course in Iraq," he said. "We intend to keep pressing President Bush to provide it." | "The American people want a change of course in Iraq," he said. "We intend to keep pressing President Bush to provide it." |
| The US currently has 132,000 troops stationed in Iraq. | The US currently has 132,000 troops stationed in Iraq. |
| 'Well-defined mission' | 'Well-defined mission' |
| President Bush began with a bleak assessment of the situation, saying that sectarian violence had overwhelmed political gains made by Iraqi since the 2003 invasion. | President Bush began with a bleak assessment of the situation, saying that sectarian violence had overwhelmed political gains made by Iraqi since the 2003 invasion. |
| Our troops will have a well-defined mission, to help Iraqis clear and secure neighbourhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs President Bush href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6245851.stm" class="">Echoes of Vietnam The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington said he sounded chastened, saying that any mistakes were his own responsibility. | |
| A change of strategy was needed, he added. | A change of strategy was needed, he added. |
| Mr Bush said the vast majority of the new troops would be sent to Baghdad and would fight alongside Iraqi units to secure neighbourhoods from "terrorists and insurgents". | Mr Bush said the vast majority of the new troops would be sent to Baghdad and would fight alongside Iraqi units to secure neighbourhoods from "terrorists and insurgents". |
| "Our troops will have a well-defined mission, to help Iraqis clear and secure neighbourhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs," he said. | "Our troops will have a well-defined mission, to help Iraqis clear and secure neighbourhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs," he said. |
| But Mr Bush said the effort would succeed where previous operations had failed, because this time troop levels would be sufficient to hold areas that had been cleared. | But Mr Bush said the effort would succeed where previous operations had failed, because this time troop levels would be sufficient to hold areas that had been cleared. |
| Another 4,000 troops would go to Anbar province, he said. | Another 4,000 troops would go to Anbar province, he said. |
| Al-Qaeda was planning to seize control of the province, but local tribal leaders were starting to show willingness to fight them, the president said. | Al-Qaeda was planning to seize control of the province, but local tribal leaders were starting to show willingness to fight them, the president said. |
| "As a result, our commanders believe we have an opportunity to deal a serious blow to the terrorists," he added. | "As a result, our commanders believe we have an opportunity to deal a serious blow to the terrorists," he added. |
| 'Beyond military' | 'Beyond military' |
| Mr Bush also warned the Iraqi government to keep to its commitments. | Mr Bush also warned the Iraqi government to keep to its commitments. |
| "A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations," he said. "Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by visible improvements in their neighbourhoods and communities." | "A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations," he said. "Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by visible improvements in their neighbourhoods and communities." |
| "So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced." | "So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced." |
| Iraq's territorial integrity also needed defending, Mr Bush said, and this meant interrupting the flow of support for insurgents from Iran and Syria. | Iraq's territorial integrity also needed defending, Mr Bush said, and this meant interrupting the flow of support for insurgents from Iran and Syria. |