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| Bush team defends US Iraq plans | Bush team defends US Iraq plans |
| (3 days later) | |
| Top members of the Bush administration have been speaking out to try to convince US public opinion that success can be achieved in Iraq. | Top members of the Bush administration have been speaking out to try to convince US public opinion that success can be achieved in Iraq. |
| Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was among several officials defending the government's Iraq policy as adaptable, as US mid-term elections approach. | Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was among several officials defending the government's Iraq policy as adaptable, as US mid-term elections approach. |
| The US envoy to Iraq earlier said Iraq could be stabilised, despite setbacks. | The US envoy to Iraq earlier said Iraq could be stabilised, despite setbacks. |
| A top Republican has meanwhile joined Democrats in criticising Mr Bush in a month of high US casualties. | |
| More than 90 US servicemen have died in Iraq, the highest toll since November 2004. | |
| Three hundred Iraqi troops have also died in October, and some estimates say sectarian attacks now claim an average of 40 Iraqi lives every day. | Three hundred Iraqi troops have also died in October, and some estimates say sectarian attacks now claim an average of 40 Iraqi lives every day. |
| According to the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington, the Bush administration is trying its best to suggest it has a plan to end the violence. | According to the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington, the Bush administration is trying its best to suggest it has a plan to end the violence. |
| This violence is going to go on for a long time Stephen HadleyUS National Security Adviser | This violence is going to go on for a long time Stephen HadleyUS National Security Adviser |
| On Tuesday, the US ambassador and military commander in Baghdad told US viewers via a rare televised joint news conference that success in Iraq was still possible. | On Tuesday, the US ambassador and military commander in Baghdad told US viewers via a rare televised joint news conference that success in Iraq was still possible. |
| Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said there would be setbacks, but the aim of creating a multi-ethnic and multi-faith Iraq remained unchanged. | Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said there would be setbacks, but the aim of creating a multi-ethnic and multi-faith Iraq remained unchanged. |
| Gen George Casey said Iraqi forces should be able to assume responsibility for security in the next 12 to 18 months, with minimal aid from the US. | Gen George Casey said Iraqi forces should be able to assume responsibility for security in the next 12 to 18 months, with minimal aid from the US. |
| Iraq's National Security Adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie subsequently confirmed that the Iraqi government had accepted the proposed measures. | Iraq's National Security Adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie subsequently confirmed that the Iraqi government had accepted the proposed measures. |
| "We have agreed on a timeline. Remember, we have achieved a great deal over the past three years," he told CNN. | "We have agreed on a timeline. Remember, we have achieved a great deal over the past three years," he told CNN. |
| But a note of caution was sounded by a senior Iraqi politician, Adnan Pachachi, who told the BBC he doubted that the Iraqi police would be ready to take control so quickly. | But a note of caution was sounded by a senior Iraqi politician, Adnan Pachachi, who told the BBC he doubted that the Iraqi police would be ready to take control so quickly. |
| "First they have been heavily infiltrated by the militias they are supposed to fight. Secondly, I think they have been deprived of the necessary equipment and weapons. They lack the motivation to fight. They lack discipline," Mr Pachachi said. | "First they have been heavily infiltrated by the militias they are supposed to fight. Secondly, I think they have been deprived of the necessary equipment and weapons. They lack the motivation to fight. They lack discipline," Mr Pachachi said. |
| Mr Pachachi also warned of chaos if coalition forces withdrew from Iraq too quickly. | Mr Pachachi also warned of chaos if coalition forces withdrew from Iraq too quickly. |
| Change in tactics | Change in tactics |
| Several top administration officials discussed Iraq with a gathering of conservative talk radio hosts at the White House on Tuesday. | Several top administration officials discussed Iraq with a gathering of conservative talk radio hosts at the White House on Tuesday. |
| Baghdad diary: What options? Basra week: News and views from the Today programme | Baghdad diary: What options? Basra week: News and views from the Today programme |
| Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was asked why President Bush appeared to have abandoned the Republicans' recent slogan that the party was planning to "stay the course" in Iraq. | Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was asked why President Bush appeared to have abandoned the Republicans' recent slogan that the party was planning to "stay the course" in Iraq. |
| "I suppose the concern was that it gave the opponents a chance to say, 'well, he's not willing to make adjustments' - and of course just the opposite is true," Mr Rumsfeld said. | "I suppose the concern was that it gave the opponents a chance to say, 'well, he's not willing to make adjustments' - and of course just the opposite is true," Mr Rumsfeld said. |
| President Bush echoed this view in an interview with CNBC TV, saying he had been "talking about a change in tactics... ever since we went in". | President Bush echoed this view in an interview with CNBC TV, saying he had been "talking about a change in tactics... ever since we went in". |
| National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley meanwhile said the violence in Iraq is unlikely to end during Mr Bush's presidency. | National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley meanwhile said the violence in Iraq is unlikely to end during Mr Bush's presidency. |
| "Is there going to be peace? Is there going to [be] the end of any violence? Of course not. This violence is going to go on for a long time," Mr Hadley said. | "Is there going to be peace? Is there going to [be] the end of any violence? Of course not. This violence is going to go on for a long time," Mr Hadley said. |
| But, he added, the US hoped Iraqi institutions would eventually be able to contain the threats to the country's security. | But, he added, the US hoped Iraqi institutions would eventually be able to contain the threats to the country's security. |
| 'Verge of chaos' | 'Verge of chaos' |
| Our correspondent says the Republican party is hoping that Tuesday's efforts to defend policy in Iraq will convince the party's supporters that all is not lost there, before mid-term polls in two weeks' time. | Our correspondent says the Republican party is hoping that Tuesday's efforts to defend policy in Iraq will convince the party's supporters that all is not lost there, before mid-term polls in two weeks' time. |
| 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 | 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. |
| A top Republican Senator decided to speak out on Tuesday, arguing that the White House has lost its direction in Iraq. | A top Republican Senator decided to speak out on Tuesday, arguing that the White House has lost its direction in Iraq. |
| "We're on the verge of chaos and the current plan is not working," Senator Lindsey Graham said. | "We're on the verge of chaos and the current plan is not working," Senator Lindsey Graham said. |
| He said Mr Rumsfeld and the US military commanders in Iraq must "come up with a game plan" to end the fighting. | He said Mr Rumsfeld and the US military commanders in Iraq must "come up with a game plan" to end the fighting. |