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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Congress to hear report on Iraq | Congress to hear report on Iraq |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| President George W Bush's top military and political advisers on Iraq are to begin two days of testimony before Congress on the US troop surge plan. | President George W Bush's top military and political advisers on Iraq are to begin two days of testimony before Congress on the US troop surge plan. |
| General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are scheduled to report to four congressional committees. | General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are scheduled to report to four congressional committees. |
| Correspondents say it has been billed as "make or break" for President Bush's resolve to stay the course in Iraq. | Correspondents say it has been billed as "make or break" for President Bush's resolve to stay the course in Iraq. |
| A record 168,000 US troops are now in Iraq after 30,000 arrived in the surge between February and June this year. | A record 168,000 US troops are now in Iraq after 30,000 arrived in the surge between February and June this year. |
| The BBC's defence correspondent Rob Watson says rarely has the testimony of a US general to Congress received so much advanced billing. | The BBC's defence correspondent Rob Watson says rarely has the testimony of a US general to Congress received so much advanced billing. |
| Gen Petraeus has become something of a talisman for President Bush - the general he has entrusted to rescue his policy in Iraq. | Gen Petraeus has become something of a talisman for President Bush - the general he has entrusted to rescue his policy in Iraq. |
| But there is a sense in Washington that his testimony may all be something of an anti-climax, our correspondent says. | But there is a sense in Washington that his testimony may all be something of an anti-climax, our correspondent says. |
| Up-beat message | Up-beat message |
| Gen Petraeus is expected to argue that the controversial surge strategy has cut sectarian violence and should be extended. | Gen Petraeus is expected to argue that the controversial surge strategy has cut sectarian violence and should be extended. |
| We have achieved tactical momentum and wrested the initiative from our enemies in a number of areas of Iraq Gen Petraeus Reports on Iraq to Congress href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6985878.stm">Buying time on Iraq | |
| But it is anticipated that he will accept gradual troop cuts, beginning early next year. | But it is anticipated that he will accept gradual troop cuts, beginning early next year. |
| "We have achieved tactical momentum and wrested the initiative from our enemies in a number of areas of Iraq," Gen Petraeus wrote in a letter to US forces on Saturday. | "We have achieved tactical momentum and wrested the initiative from our enemies in a number of areas of Iraq," Gen Petraeus wrote in a letter to US forces on Saturday. |
| But he said political reconciliation in Baghdad had not "worked out as we had hoped," although he was optimistic "a stable and secure Iraq" was possible. | But he said political reconciliation in Baghdad had not "worked out as we had hoped," although he was optimistic "a stable and secure Iraq" was possible. |
| Our correspondent says President Bush is hoping the general's more up-beat message on security will be enough to stave off calls for a timeline for a US withdrawal. | Our correspondent says President Bush is hoping the general's more up-beat message on security will be enough to stave off calls for a timeline for a US withdrawal. |
| Democrats in Congress have long been pushing for a reduction in troop numbers in Iraq. | Democrats in Congress have long been pushing for a reduction in troop numbers in Iraq. |
| On Thursday they seized on a report from a key US security commission recommending a cut in troop numbers by early 2008. | On Thursday they seized on a report from a key US security commission recommending a cut in troop numbers by early 2008. |
| Mr Bush, who decides on force levels in Iraq, has said he will follow advice from commanders on the ground, rather than bowing to political pressure, to make his decision. | Mr Bush, who decides on force levels in Iraq, has said he will follow advice from commanders on the ground, rather than bowing to political pressure, to make his decision. |