President Bush speaks during a meeting with Congressional leaders, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Posted on 09/11/2007 12:50:57 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - President Bush will tell the nation this week he plans to reduce the American troop presence in Iraq by about 30,000 by next summer, but will condition those and further cuts on continued progress, The Associated Press has learned.
In a prime-time television address, probably Thursday, Bush will endorse the recommendations of his top general and top diplomat in Iraq, following their appearance at two days of hearings in Congress, administration officials said. The White House plans to issue a written status report on the so-called "surge" on Friday, they said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Bush's speech is not yet finally drafted. White House officials were preparing the address even as the U.S. commanding general, David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker were presenting arguments to stay the course in Iraq in a second day of testimony on Capitol Hill.
The reductions envisioned by the White House mirror those proposed by Petraeus and would leave approximately 130,000 U.S. troops on the ground by August, roughly the level at which they were before Bush ordered the buildup early this year, the officials said.
In the speech, the president will say he understands the deep concerns Americans have about U.S. involvement in Iraq and their desire to bring the troops home, they said. Bush will say that after hearing from Petraeus and Crocker, he has decided on a way forward that will reduce the number of troops but not abandon Iraq, they said.
The address will stake out a conciliatory tone toward Congress but Bush will place more conditions on the pace of reductions to the pre-buildup level of 130,000 than Petraeus did.
At the White House Tuesday afternoon, Bush met with House and Senate lawmakers of both parties to discuss Iraq. He publicly pledged to consider their input. "It's very important before I make up mind that I consult with leaders of the House and the Senate," he said.
This is crap.
This is crap.
They, like CNN, print the 1% that agree with their agenda...
“WASHINGTON - President Bush will tell the nation this week he plans to reduce the American troop presence in Iraq by about 30,000 by next summer, but will condition those and further cuts on continued progress, The Associated Press has learned.”
Meaningless gesture. But will be successful given the Democrats’ total ignorance about Iraqi problems. Not one question to Petraeus about no oil sharing law yet in Iraq? Just reflexive liberal anti-military bashing.
hee hee hee... i think Bush is right on the money with this
the democraps will be spinning like crazy
spinning like crazy
CNN is ..
If Iraqi security can't tolerate that bit of reduction in a year's time, it is crap.
It’s all contingent on the original plan: as Iraqi’s stand up, we will stand down.
I’ve been listening to General Patraeus all day. This reduction w/b in the surge levels, if conditions allow it.
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By next June is still 3 months longer than the libs have claimed we have resources for. The surge was designed to end thus the name “surge”.
Main Entry: 2surge
Function: noun
1 : a swelling, rolling, or sweeping forward like that of a wave or series of waves <a surge of interest>
Definition of surge - Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
President Bush speaks during a meeting with Congressional leaders, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Cheney.. lol
Vice President Dick Cheney, right, looks on as President Bush speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, prior to the ceremonial swearing-in of Budget Director Jim Nussle. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Somewhat unusual for the White House to announce details. Or is it? Maybe some new personnel with new ways of dealing with the Press.
It’s a new day, after all, Karl has left the building. :-)
I gave up on pretty much any chance at some decent public relations campaigns from the WH.. a long time ago.. ya never know.
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