IRAQ:The Iraqi government has made little progress towards achieving agreed military and political goals, according to a White House report delivered to Congress yesterday, a day after President Bush said that recent political progress made in Iraq justified keeping US troops there.
In a televised address to the nation on Thursday Mr Bush endorsed the recommendation of the top US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, that a modest drawdown of US forces could begin later this month.
The president said that, although troop numbers would be back to 2006 levels by next summer, he would not commit to any further reduction for the moment.
"The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is 'return on success'.
"The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home. And, in all we do, I will ensure that our commanders on the ground have the troops and flexibility they need to defeat the enemy," he said.
The president made clear that he expects a sizeable US military presence to remain in Iraq beyond the end of his presidency, declaring that such a commitment was needed to ensure the survival of Iraq's democratic institutions.
"This vision for a reduced American presence also has the support of Iraqi leaders from all communities.
"At the same time, they understand that their success will require US political, economic and security engagement that extends beyond my presidency.
"These Iraqi leaders have asked for an enduring relationship with America. And we are ready to begin building that relationship - in a way that protects our interests in the region and requires many fewer American troops," he said.
However, Democrats condemned Mr Bush's speech, characterising it as an unlimited commitment to keeping US forces in Iraq.
Senator Edward Kennedy said that the president had shown that he was unwilling to change course or to offer any hope of an end to the war.
"Unfortunately, it is clear that the president will continue to stubbornly push, as he has for the last four years, for the same open-ended commitment of our troops.
"The president's policy has made our troops hostage to Iraqi politicians who have yet to show any willingness to make the tough decisions required to end their civil war," Senator Kennedy said.
Mr Bush said yesterday that Congress should embrace his war strategy and ignore public demands for a full withdrawal of US forces.
"We've got security in the right direction and we are bringing our troops home," he said.
