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Bush boosts troop numbers in Iraq Bush boosts troop numbers in Iraq
(10 minutes later)
US President George W Bush has ordered more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, as part of a new strategy for tackling the conflict there.US President George W Bush has ordered more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, as part of a new strategy for tackling the conflict there.
In a live televised address, Mr Bush said the deployment would help break the cycle of violence and hasten the day US troops were 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 were 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.
Democratic Party leaders said Congress would give the proposals the "scrutiny our troops and the American people expect".Democratic Party leaders said Congress would give the proposals the "scrutiny our troops and the American people expect".
"We will demand answers to the tough questions that have not been asked or answered to date," they said."We will demand answers to the tough questions that have not been asked or answered to date," they said.
Mr Bush warned that his country's commitment to Iraq was "not open-ended", and that he expected the government in Baghdad to fulfil its own promises.Mr Bush warned that his country's commitment to Iraq was "not open-ended", and that he expected the government in Baghdad to fulfil its own promises.
The key measures announced by Mr Bush include:
    		The key measures announced by Mr Bush include:
    • Raising troop numbers by more than 20,000Raising troop numbers by more than 20,000
    • Improving Iraqi security forces' capacity to protect the civilian population
    • Improving Iraqi security forces' capacity to protect the civilian population
    • Setting political benchmarks for the Iraqi government
    • Setting political benchmarks for the Iraqi government
    • Funding a $1bn (£517m) aid and reconstruction programme to economically develop Iraq
    • Funding a $1bn (£517m) aid and reconstruction programme to economically develop Iraq
    • Taking a tough stance towards Iran and Syria, whom Mr Bush accuses of destabilising its neighbour
    • Taking a tough stance towards Iran and Syria, whom Mr Bush accuses of destabilising its neighbour
      • The Democrats have promised a non-binding vote in both houses of Congress on the strategy.The Democrats have promised a non-binding vote in both houses of Congress on the strategy.
      The US currently has 132,000 troops stationed in Iraq.The US currently has 132,000 troops stationed in Iraq.
      Change of strategyChange of strategy
      President Bush began with a bleak assessment of the situation, saying that sectarian violence had overwhelmed political gains made by Iraq since the 2003 invasion.President Bush began with a bleak assessment of the situation, saying that sectarian violence had overwhelmed political gains made by Iraq since the 2003 invasion.
      Our troops will have a well-defined mission President George W Bush Full text: Bush's speech New 'Battle for Baghdad'? Echoes of VietnamOur troops will have a well-defined mission President George W Bush Full text: Bush's speech New 'Battle for Baghdad'? Echoes of Vietnam
      The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington said he sounded chastened, saying that any mistakes were his own responsibility.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, Mr Bush said.A change of strategy was needed, Mr Bush said.
      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.
      Some 4,000 troops would go to Anbar province, he said.Some 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 own commitments, mentioning Mr Maliki's pledge to crack down on "outlaws" from both sides of Iraq's sectarian divide, and the need for improvements to Iraq's basic services.Mr Bush also warned the Iraqi government to keep to its own commitments, mentioning Mr Maliki's pledge to crack down on "outlaws" from both sides of Iraq's sectarian divide, and the need for improvements to Iraq's basic services.
      "A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations," the president 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," the president 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.
      Victory would not look like those won in previous wars - but failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States, he said.Victory would not look like those won in previous wars - but failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States, he said.
      But the president's announcement was sharply criticised by a number of senior Democrats, whose party recently took control of both houses of Congress. Senior Democrats, whose party recently took control of both houses of Congress, were critical.
      'Ignoring advice''Ignoring advice'
      Senator Richard Durbin said the president was ignoring the advice of the former US commander in Iraq, Gen John Abizaid, that increasing troop numbers would prevent the Iraqis from taking more responsibility for their own future.Senator Richard Durbin said the president was ignoring the advice of the former US commander in Iraq, Gen John Abizaid, that increasing troop numbers would prevent the Iraqis from taking more responsibility for their own future.
      The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says that many of the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group were conspicuous by their absence.The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says that many of the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group were conspicuous by their absence.
      Instead, for example, of calling for more diplomacy with Iran and Syria, Mr Bush pledged to seek out and destroy Iranian and Syrian networks which he said were equipping and training enemies of the US in Iraq.Instead, for example, of calling for more diplomacy with Iran and Syria, Mr Bush pledged to seek out and destroy Iranian and Syrian networks which he said were equipping and training enemies of the US in Iraq.
      While most Republican members of Congress backed the president, one senator, George Voinovich, doubted the wisdom of a troop increase.While most Republican members of Congress backed the president, one senator, George Voinovich, doubted the wisdom of a troop increase.
      "At this point I am sceptical that a surge in troops alone will bring an end to sectarian violence and the insurgency that is fomenting instability in Iraq," he said."At this point I am sceptical that a surge in troops alone will bring an end to sectarian violence and the insurgency that is fomenting instability in Iraq," he said.