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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US seeks to steady nerves on Iraq | US seeks to steady nerves on Iraq |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US military commander in Iraq is to hold a rare joint news conference with the US ambassador in Baghdad, amid speculation over Washington's strategy. | The US military commander in Iraq is to hold a rare joint news conference with the US ambassador in Baghdad, amid speculation over Washington's strategy. |
| Gen George Casey said recently that Iraqi security forces would be able to take over responsibility for the whole of Iraq in 12 to 18 months. | Gen George Casey said recently that Iraqi security forces would be able to take over responsibility for the whole of Iraq in 12 to 18 months. |
| On Monday the US increased pressure to get the Iraqi authorities to do more to tackle the growing violence. | On Monday the US increased pressure to get the Iraqi authorities to do more to tackle the growing violence. |
| Washington said it would monitor Baghdad's efforts. | Washington said it would monitor Baghdad's efforts. |
| Senior White House aide Dan Bartlett said "benchmarks and milestones" would be used to track Iraq's progress, but these were not linked to deadlines or threats to withdraw troops. | Senior White House aide Dan Bartlett said "benchmarks and milestones" would be used to track Iraq's progress, but these were not linked to deadlines or threats to withdraw troops. |
| The remarks follow growing calls from senior officials and politicians for US and British troops to be withdrawn. | The remarks follow growing calls from senior officials and politicians for US and British troops to be withdrawn. |
| At least 87 US troops have died this month - the highest monthly toll since November 2004. | At least 87 US troops have died this month - the highest monthly toll since November 2004. |
| On the offensive | On the offensive |
| Gen Casey and Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad are expected to speak to journalists at 1400 local time (1100 GMT). | Gen Casey and Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad are expected to speak to journalists at 1400 local time (1100 GMT). |
| BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the White House will want the two men to perform a very difficult balancing act, arguing that there is no need for a radical shift in US strategy, but that they are ready to change tactics when necessary. | |
| Mr Khalilzad, from the neo-conservative camp in the US, was an enthusiastic advocate of the Iraq war. | |
| He has been involved in exhaustive efforts behind the scenes to cajole Iraq's different political groupings into burying their differences and establishing a stable political system - so far with limited success. | |
| Gen Casey, meanwhile, is a thoughtful general credited with providing a more strategic perspective to the US military presence, and to changing much of its approach to the occupation, our correspondent says. | |
| But he has failed to bring about a reduction in the violence. | |
| Pressure for change | |
| The Bush administration intends to spend the day on the offensive over Iraq, exactly two weeks before key mid-term congressional elections. | The Bush administration intends to spend the day on the offensive over Iraq, exactly two weeks before key mid-term congressional elections. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Having invaded the country I feel we are under some kind of obligation not just to abandon it Jo Wiltshire, London Send us your comments | |
| An opinion poll conducted during the last few days for CNN suggests that only 20% of Americans think the war is being won. The figure was 40% a year ago. | An opinion poll conducted during the last few days for CNN suggests that only 20% of Americans think the war is being won. The figure was 40% a year ago. |
| To help shore up support, a group of conservative talk radio hosts will broadcast the administration's message to their audiences live from a tent on the lawn of the White House. | To help shore up support, a group of conservative talk radio hosts will broadcast the administration's message to their audiences live from a tent on the lawn of the White House. |
| Correspondents say politicians across both major US parties have lost patience with the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | |
| Wayne White, a former deputy director of Iraq intelligence in the US State Department, told the BBC on Monday that pressure was mounting for a major change in approach - "either withdrawal or a major shift in strategy". | Wayne White, a former deputy director of Iraq intelligence in the US State Department, told the BBC on Monday that pressure was mounting for a major change in approach - "either withdrawal or a major shift in strategy". |
| Meanwhile in London, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Barham Saleh, said his government would "assume more and more responsibility in the security area". | Meanwhile in London, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Barham Saleh, said his government would "assume more and more responsibility in the security area". |
| But he said the US and UK could not "cut and run" leaving Iraq to face the difficult challenges on its own. | But he said the US and UK could not "cut and run" leaving Iraq to face the difficult challenges on its own. |
| UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain intended "to hold its nerve" in Iraq, and his office denied he had pressed Mr Saleh for assurances that Iraqi forces could take over policing southern Iraq within a year. | UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain intended "to hold its nerve" in Iraq, and his office denied he had pressed Mr Saleh for assurances that Iraqi forces could take over policing southern Iraq within a year. |