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| Bush pledges Iraq troop reduction | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| US President George W Bush has made a televised address backing a limited withdrawal of troops from Iraq. | |
| The gradual pull-out would take numbers back to their level before Mr Bush ordered a build-up this year. Critics have said more should be withdrawn. | |
| Mr Bush largely followed the advice of US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, who gave a progress report to Congress earlier this week. | |
| It follows the news that a key Sunni ally of the US has been killed in Iraq. | It follows the news that a key Sunni ally of the US has been killed in Iraq. |
| 'Never too late' | 'Never too late' |
| In his primetime televised address, Mr Bush announced plans to reduce US troops by roughly 30,000 by next summer, if certain conditions are met. | |
| "The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home," he said. | |
| PETRAEUS - KEY POINTS Sectarian violence declined since surge started30,000 US troops likely withdrawn by mid-2008Decision on further troop cuts expected in March Situation in Iraq remains difficult Key quotes from hearing General Petraeus: Report to Congress [64 KB] General Petraeus: Report charts [1 MB] Ambassador Crocker: Report to Congress [50 KB] Most computers will open these documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | PETRAEUS - KEY POINTS Sectarian violence declined since surge started30,000 US troops likely withdrawn by mid-2008Decision on further troop cuts expected in March Situation in Iraq remains difficult Key quotes from hearing General Petraeus: Report to Congress [64 KB] General Petraeus: Report charts [1 MB] Ambassador Crocker: Report to Congress [50 KB] Most computers will open these documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| He argued that the gradual pull-out plan bridges the gap between the people who want to bring troops home, and those who believe success in Iraq is essential to US security. | |
| "[The strategy] makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together." | "[The strategy] makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together." |
| Addressing the critics of the war, he said: "It is never too late to deal a blow to al-Qaeda. It is never too late to advance freedom. And it is never too late to support our troops in a fight they can win." | |
| Mr Bush's speech comes after the death of Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, who led what was known as the "Anbar Awakening", an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that rose up against al-Qaeda in Iraq. | Mr Bush's speech comes after the death of Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, who led what was known as the "Anbar Awakening", an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that rose up against al-Qaeda in Iraq. |
| He met and was endorsed by Mr Bush when the president visited US troops in Iraq last week. The White House has condemned his killing in a bomb attack. | He met and was endorsed by Mr Bush when the president visited US troops in Iraq last week. The White House has condemned his killing in a bomb attack. |
| Correspondents say his death may undermine US efforts against al-Qaeda in Anbar province, or strengthen the tribes' resolve to maintain an alliance with the US and Iraqi government. | Correspondents say his death may undermine US efforts against al-Qaeda in Anbar province, or strengthen the tribes' resolve to maintain an alliance with the US and Iraqi government. |
| Numbers undecided | Numbers undecided |
| At a White House briefing ahead of the speech, senior officials said the aim is to reduce the US force from 20 combat brigades to 15 by the middle of next year. | At a White House briefing ahead of the speech, senior officials said the aim is to reduce the US force from 20 combat brigades to 15 by the middle of next year. |
| Top Democrats say they will try to pass new legislation on Iraq | Top Democrats say they will try to pass new legislation on Iraq |
| The idea is to hand responsibilities for maintaining security over to Iraqi forces. | The idea is to hand responsibilities for maintaining security over to Iraqi forces. |
| Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said it was "premature to put a figure" on the number of troops that would be leaving. | Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said it was "premature to put a figure" on the number of troops that would be leaving. |
| "That is because there are support troops... the general [Petraeus] has not yet decided how many of those he will still need as he takes out those five combat brigades," he told the Associated Press. | "That is because there are support troops... the general [Petraeus] has not yet decided how many of those he will still need as he takes out those five combat brigades," he told the Associated Press. |
| But it is expected the move would bring the number of US troops in Iraq down from a current high of more than 160,000, to "pre-surge" levels, about 130,000. | But it is expected the move would bring the number of US troops in Iraq down from a current high of more than 160,000, to "pre-surge" levels, about 130,000. |
| Observers point out that the surge would have had to come to an end next spring anyway, in order to avoid overstretching the military. | Observers point out that the surge would have had to come to an end next spring anyway, in order to avoid overstretching the military. |
| 'Open-ended' | 'Open-ended' |
| Senior Democrats have said the proposed reductions in US troop numbers are "insufficient" and do not represent a change in course. | Senior Democrats have said the proposed reductions in US troop numbers are "insufficient" and do not represent a change in course. |
| Senator Jack Reed is expected to give the party's response shortly after Mr Bush's address. | Senator Jack Reed is expected to give the party's response shortly after Mr Bush's address. |
| House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has accused the president of effectively signing-off on an "open-ended" commitment that could keep US troops in Iraq for 10 years. | House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has accused the president of effectively signing-off on an "open-ended" commitment that could keep US troops in Iraq for 10 years. |
| Senator Carl Levin, Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it appeared that President Bush was prepared to "stay the course indefinitely". | Senator Carl Levin, Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it appeared that President Bush was prepared to "stay the course indefinitely". |
| The Democrats say they plan to put forward a series of amendments intended to limit the mission of US forces in Iraq as legislation is debated in Congress next week. | The Democrats say they plan to put forward a series of amendments intended to limit the mission of US forces in Iraq as legislation is debated in Congress next week. |
| The Democrats have so far been unable to pass legislation to set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq because their majority in Congress is too slim to overturn a presidential veto. | The Democrats have so far been unable to pass legislation to set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq because their majority in Congress is too slim to overturn a presidential veto. |
| 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. |