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| General hints at Iraq troop cuts | General hints at Iraq troop cuts |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The most senior US commander in Iraq has hinted that he may recommend a reduction in US troop numbers to avoid placing a strain on the army. | The most senior US commander in Iraq has hinted that he may recommend a reduction in US troop numbers to avoid placing a strain on the army. |
| Gen David Petraeus told US television there were limits to what the military could do, and agreed that next March was "about right" for reductions. | Gen David Petraeus told US television there were limits to what the military could do, and agreed that next March was "about right" for reductions. |
| The general is due to present his much anticipated assessment of US military strategy in Iraq to Congress next week. | The general is due to present his much anticipated assessment of US military strategy in Iraq to Congress next week. |
| Meanwhile President George W Bush has strongly defended his policy in Iraq. | Meanwhile President George W Bush has strongly defended his policy in Iraq. |
| My recommendations have to be informed by - not driven by - ... the strain we have put on our military services Gen David Petraeus | My recommendations have to be informed by - not driven by - ... the strain we have put on our military services Gen David Petraeus |
| Earlier, a non-partisan US Congressional report had said the Iraqi government was failing to reach most of the targets set for it by Congress. | Earlier, a non-partisan US Congressional report had said the Iraqi government was failing to reach most of the targets set for it by Congress. |
| Speaking in Sydney after a meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Mr Bush said: "The security situation is changing, so that reconciliation can take place." | Speaking in Sydney after a meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Mr Bush said: "The security situation is changing, so that reconciliation can take place." |
| He added that the fact that Iraqi legislature passed 60 pieces of legislation "was illustrative of a government that's beginning to work". | He added that the fact that Iraqi legislature passed 60 pieces of legislation "was illustrative of a government that's beginning to work". |
| Mr Howard, meanwhile, said he was not planning to change Australia's forces in Iraq. | Mr Howard, meanwhile, said he was not planning to change Australia's forces in Iraq. |
| "Our commitment to Iraq remains," he said. | "Our commitment to Iraq remains," he said. |
| "This is not the time for any proposals of a scaling down of Australian forces." | "This is not the time for any proposals of a scaling down of Australian forces." |
| 'Initiative against al-Qaeda' | 'Initiative against al-Qaeda' |
| Gen Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, are due to deliver a full progress report on the US military surge to Congress next week. | Gen Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, are due to deliver a full progress report on the US military surge to Congress next week. |
| There are concerns about strains being put on the US armed forces | There are concerns about strains being put on the US armed forces |
| Gen Petraeus told ABC that the surge, which had provided "an initiative ... against al-Qaeda", would run its course but there were limits to what the military could do. | Gen Petraeus told ABC that the surge, which had provided "an initiative ... against al-Qaeda", would run its course but there were limits to what the military could do. |
| "My recommendations have to be informed by - not driven by - ... the strain we have put on our military services," he said. | "My recommendations have to be informed by - not driven by - ... the strain we have put on our military services," he said. |
| Gen Petraeus' statements came as a Congressional watchdog reported that the Iraqi government was "dysfunctional" and had failed to meet 11 of 18 key benchmarks set by the US. | Gen Petraeus' statements came as a Congressional watchdog reported that the Iraqi government was "dysfunctional" and had failed to meet 11 of 18 key benchmarks set by the US. |
| Political progress in Iraq has been unsatisfactory and violence "remains high", a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found. | Political progress in Iraq has been unsatisfactory and violence "remains high", a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found. |
| Iraq has met three benchmarks and partially met another four, it says. | Iraq has met three benchmarks and partially met another four, it says. |
| READ THE REPORT GAO report in full Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE REPORT GAO report in full Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| The set of 18 political and military goals for Iraq were set by Congress, which asked the GAO to inquire whether they had been met. | The set of 18 political and military goals for Iraq were set by Congress, which asked the GAO to inquire whether they had been met. |
| Its report, issued on Tuesday, said Iraq had failed to live up to key targets on reducing sectarian violence and passing laws on oil revenue sharing. | Its report, issued on Tuesday, said Iraq had failed to live up to key targets on reducing sectarian violence and passing laws on oil revenue sharing. |
| It says militias are still active and the performance of the US-backed Iraqi government has been poor. | It says militias are still active and the performance of the US-backed Iraqi government has been poor. |
| The GAO findings come a day after President George W Bush visited Iraq's Anbar province and said his security surge - the injection of an extra 30,000 troops into Iraq - was delivering results. | The GAO findings come a day after President George W Bush visited Iraq's Anbar province and said his security surge - the injection of an extra 30,000 troops into Iraq - was delivering results. |