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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Key Iraq pair addressing Congress | Key Iraq pair addressing Congress |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| President George W Bush's top military and political advisers on Iraq have begun two days of testimony before Congress on the US troop surge. | President George W Bush's top military and political advisers on Iraq have begun two days of testimony before Congress on the US troop surge. |
| Gen David Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are to report to four congressional committees. | Gen David Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are to report to four congressional committees. |
| Gen Petraeus is expected to say that a recent 30,000 increase in troop numbers has cut sectarian violence. | Gen Petraeus is expected to say that a recent 30,000 increase in troop numbers has cut sectarian violence. |
| 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. |
| House Foreign Affairs committee chairman Tom Lantos said US President George W Bush's policies in Iraq had "created a fiasco". | House Foreign Affairs committee chairman Tom Lantos said US President George W Bush's policies in Iraq had "created a fiasco". |
| A record 168,000 US troops are now in Iraq after the reinforcements arrived between February and June. | A record 168,000 US troops are now in Iraq after the reinforcements arrived between February and June. |
| The assessment of the surge plan by Gen Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker has been billed as "make or break" for President Bush's resolve to stay the course in Iraq, correspondents say. | The assessment of the surge plan by Gen Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker has been billed as "make or break" for President Bush's resolve to stay the course in Iraq, correspondents say. |
| 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. |
| We have achieved tactical momentum and wrested the initiative from our enemies in a number of areas of Iraq Gen Petraeus | We have achieved tactical momentum and wrested the initiative from our enemies in a number of areas of Iraq Gen Petraeus |
| 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. |
| Troop cuts | Troop cuts |
| 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. |
| 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 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 Buying time on Iraq US surge has failed - poll |
| 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. |
| Gen Petraeus is expected to argue that the controversial surge strategy is working and should be extended. | Gen Petraeus is expected to argue that the controversial surge strategy is working and should be extended. |
| 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. |
| When I leave my house for university every morning... my life is in God's hands Ahmed Tadhom al-ShivaBaghdad 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-ShivaBaghdad University lecturer Viewpoints: Iraq surge Reports on Iraq to Congress Send us your comments |
| 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 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. |
| 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. |