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| US surge plan in Iraq 'working' | US surge plan in Iraq 'working' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The military objectives of the US troop surge in Iraq "are largely being met", the top US military commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has said. | The military objectives of the US troop surge in Iraq "are largely being met", the top US military commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has said. |
| Gen Petraeus' comments came as he and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker began testifying before Congress. | Gen Petraeus' comments came as he and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker began testifying before Congress. |
| The testimony has been billed as "make or break" for President George W Bush's resolve to stay the course in Iraq. | The testimony has been billed as "make or break" for President George W 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. | A record 168,000 US troops are now in Iraq after 30,000 arrived in the surge between February and June. |
| Speaking after Gen Petraeus, Mr Crocker said he believed it was possible for the US to see its goals achieved in Iraq. | Speaking after Gen Petraeus, Mr Crocker said he believed it was possible for the US to see its goals achieved in Iraq. |
| He said security was attainable, but it would not be achieved quickly, warning that the path would be punctuated by setbacks. | He said security was attainable, but it would not be achieved quickly, warning that the path would be punctuated by setbacks. |
| Improvements 'uneven' | Improvements 'uneven' |
| Gen Petraeus told the joint House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees that troop numbers could be reduced to pre-surge level by next summer without jeopardising the security situation in Iraq. | Gen Petraeus told the joint House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees that troop numbers could be reduced to pre-surge level by next summer without jeopardising the security situation in Iraq. |
| SURGE HEARINGS - KEY DATES 10 Sept - Gen Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker begin two days of testimony in Congress12 Sept - White House report to be released 13 Sept - President Bush TV address is expected Key quotes from hearing Buying time on Iraq US surge has failed - poll | SURGE HEARINGS - KEY DATES 10 Sept - Gen Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker begin two days of testimony in Congress12 Sept - White House report to be released 13 Sept - President Bush TV address is expected Key quotes from hearing Buying time on Iraq US surge has failed - poll |
| But he warned that "a premature draw-down of our forces would likely have devastating consequences". | But he warned that "a premature draw-down of our forces would likely have devastating consequences". |
| Gen Petraeus said the number of what he described as security incidents had declined significantly since the surge began. The number of civilian deaths had also gone down, he said. | Gen Petraeus said the number of what he described as security incidents had declined significantly since the surge began. The number of civilian deaths had also gone down, he said. |
| But he acknowledged that improvements in security had been "uneven". | But he acknowledged that improvements in security had been "uneven". |
| Iran plays a harmful role in Iraq Ryan CrockerUS ambassador to Iraq Profile: Ryan Crocker | |
| "While noting that the situation in Iraq remains complex, difficult and sometimes downright frustrating, I also believe that it is possible to achieve our objectives in Iraq over time, although doing so will be neither quick, nor easy," he said. | "While noting that the situation in Iraq remains complex, difficult and sometimes downright frustrating, I also believe that it is possible to achieve our objectives in Iraq over time, although doing so will be neither quick, nor easy," he said. |
| Before Gen Petraeus began his testimony, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, Democrat, said President Bush's policies in Iraq had "created a fiasco". | Before Gen Petraeus began his testimony, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, Democrat, said President Bush's policies in Iraq had "created a fiasco". |
| Mr Lantos also called for a dramatic change of course, and said the US needed to get out of Iraq immediately. | Mr Lantos also called for a dramatic change of course, and said the US needed to get out of Iraq immediately. |
| Several hecklers were removed by security personnel | Several hecklers were removed by security personnel |
| Gen Petraeus said his testimony had not been cleared by the Pentagon or the White House before he gave it, and that he had written it himself. | Gen Petraeus said his testimony had not been cleared by the Pentagon or the White House before he gave it, and that he had written it himself. |
| His testimony was slightly delayed after a microphone did not work. Several hecklers were also removed from the hearing. | His testimony was slightly delayed after a microphone did not work. Several hecklers were also removed from the hearing. |
| Shortly before his testimony, the US military said nine of its troops died in Iraq on Monday, including seven in what it described as a vehicle accident in Baghdad. | |
| Iraq survey | Iraq survey |
| The Congressional hearings come as a new opinion poll suggested about 70% of Iraqis believe security has deteriorated in the area covered by the surge. | The Congressional hearings come as a new opinion poll suggested about 70% of Iraqis believe security has deteriorated in the area covered by the surge. |
| When I leave my house for university every morning... my life is in God's hands Ahmed Tadhom al-Shiva,Baghdad University lecturer Viewpoints: Iraq surge Reports on Iraq to Congress Send us your comments | When I leave my house for university every morning... my life is in God's hands Ahmed Tadhom al-Shiva,Baghdad University lecturer Viewpoints: Iraq surge Reports on Iraq to Congress Send us your comments |
| The survey by the BBC, ABC News and NHK of more than 2,000 people across Iraq also suggests that nearly 60% see attacks on US-led troops as justified. | The survey by the BBC, ABC News and NHK of more than 2,000 people across Iraq also suggests that nearly 60% see attacks on US-led troops as justified. |
| However, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said violence since the surge began had fallen 75% in the provinces of Baghdad and Anbar, and that 14,000 militants linked to al-Qaeda had renounced violence. | However, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said violence since the surge began had fallen 75% in the provinces of Baghdad and Anbar, and that 14,000 militants linked to al-Qaeda had renounced violence. |
| "We have succeeded in preventing Iraq from sliding into the abyss of a sectarian war which was threatening our beloved country," Mr Maliki told the Iraqi parliament on Monday. | "We have succeeded in preventing Iraq from sliding into the abyss of a sectarian war which was threatening our beloved country," Mr Maliki told the Iraqi parliament on Monday. |
| BBC defence correspondent Rob Watson says rarely has the testimony of a US general to Congress received so much advanced billing. | BBC defence correspondent Rob Watson says rarely has the testimony of a US general to Congress received so much advanced billing. |
| He says Gen Petraeus has become something of a talisman for President Bush - the commander he has entrusted to rescue his policy in Iraq. | He says Gen Petraeus has become something of a talisman for President Bush - the commander he has entrusted to rescue his policy in Iraq. |
| President Bush is hoping the general's more upbeat 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 upbeat message on security will be enough to stave off calls for a timeline for a US withdrawal, our correspondent says. |
| Last Thursday Democrats seized on a report from a key US security commission recommending a cut in troop numbers by early 2008. | Last Thursday Democrats 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. | 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. |