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/6303277.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Bush assertive on Iraq strategy | Bush assertive on Iraq strategy |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President George W Bush has made it clear he will ignore any attempt by the US Congress to question his sending 20,000 extra troops to Iraq. | US President George W Bush has made it clear he will ignore any attempt by the US Congress to question his sending 20,000 extra troops to Iraq. |
Mr Bush - who faces tough opposition in Washington to his new Iraq strategy - said he was the decision-maker and would not rethink his plans. | Mr Bush - who faces tough opposition in Washington to his new Iraq strategy - said he was the decision-maker and would not rethink his plans. |
He spoke after the Senate unanimously backed Lt Gen David Petraeus as the new US commander in Iraq. | |
Meanwhile House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Iraq on a surprise visit. | Meanwhile House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Iraq on a surprise visit. |
Ms Pelosi, a Democrat and vocal critic of Mr Bush's plan to send more troops, held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | Ms Pelosi, a Democrat and vocal critic of Mr Bush's plan to send more troops, held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. |
Mr Maliki assured Ms Pelosi that Iraq intended "to assume security missions currently handled by US-led forces in Iraq", a statement from the prime minister's office said. | Mr Maliki assured Ms Pelosi that Iraq intended "to assume security missions currently handled by US-led forces in Iraq", a statement from the prime minister's office said. |
Ms Pelosi told journalists the meeting with Mr Maliki gave her "a greater understanding of the others' point of view". | Ms Pelosi told journalists the meeting with Mr Maliki gave her "a greater understanding of the others' point of view". |
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates meanwhile has suggested Congressional resolutions opposing Mr Bush's troops plan "embolden[s] the enemy". | |
The Senate is due to debate a number of non-binding resolutions next week, some of them sharply critical of the surge. | |
'Decision-maker' | 'Decision-maker' |
In a news conference after Gen Petraeus' confirmation, Mr Bush accused opponents of his strategy of "condemning a plan before it's even had a chance to work". | |
"I'm the decision-maker," he told senior military advisers during a meeting at the White House, the Associated Press news agency reported. | "I'm the decision-maker," he told senior military advisers during a meeting at the White House, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
The situation in Iraq is dire, the stakes are high - there are no easy choices, the way ahead will be very hard Lt-Gen David Petraeus class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6250043.stm">Petraeus: Bush 'last hope' Mr Bush said that he had authorised US forces in Iraq to target Iranian agents there. | |
"If somebody's trying to harm our troops, or stop us from achieving our goal, or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, we will stop them," he said. | "If somebody's trying to harm our troops, or stop us from achieving our goal, or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, we will stop them," he said. |
Gen Petraeus, who has spent two of the last four years in Iraq, replaces Gen George Casey. | |
A career soldier, he graduated from the West Point military academy in 1974 and was commissioned in the infantry. | A career soldier, he graduated from the West Point military academy in 1974 and was commissioned in the infantry. |
He has served in Europe and the Middle East and was commander of the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq. | He has served in Europe and the Middle East and was commander of the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq. |
Speaking to the Senate armed forces committee on Tuesday, Gen Petraeus backed Mr Bush's plan to deploy additional troops, but warned that the task in Iraq was a tough one. | |
"The situation in Iraq is dire. The stakes are high. There are no easy choices. The way ahead will be very hard," he said. | "The situation in Iraq is dire. The stakes are high. There are no easy choices. The way ahead will be very hard," he said. |
"But hard is not hopeless." | "But hard is not hopeless." |
Mr Bush wants to commit more than 21,500 additional troops, mainly to violence-hit Baghdad, in an effort to improve security and end sectarian clashes. | Mr Bush wants to commit more than 21,500 additional troops, mainly to violence-hit Baghdad, in an effort to improve security and end sectarian clashes. |
But his plan continues to face considerable opposition both from Democrats and members of his own Republican party, who want an earlier transfer of security to Iraqi leaders. | But his plan continues to face considerable opposition both from Democrats and members of his own Republican party, who want an earlier transfer of security to Iraqi leaders. |