WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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Bush to pull 8,000 troops from Iraq by February
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-09 14:46 Anthony Cordesman, an Iraq expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the emerging plan reflects the concern of US commanders: Rushing US force reductions could lead to instability at a pivotal time of Iraqi political progress and preparedness of Iraqi forces. "This plan does, however, mean continuing stress on both the active and reserve forces," Cordesman added. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has advocated pulling all US combat forces out of Iraqi within 16 months of taking office. GOP nominee John McCain has said he would rely on the advice of US military commanders to determine the timing and pace of troop reductions. Both candidates have said more troops are needed in Afghanistan, where there has been a resurgence of the Taliban and a growth in violence. Bush argued that Iraq is in a better place now by almost any measure. He said violence is at its lowest point since the spring of 2004, "normal life is returning to communities across the country," and political reconciliation is moving forward. But all this emphasis on progress and improvement belied the fact that his announcement is likely to be a disappointment to many who wanted -- and even expected -- bigger drawdowns sooner. Nowhere did Bush acknowledge this, instead highlighting his announcement as one of "additional force reductions." The Iraq war has drained the country's spirit during Bush's second term. He has turned away congressional attempts to end the war faster. More than half of Bush's address is devoted to Afghanistan. He outlined what he called a "quiet surge" of additional American forces there, bringing the US presence to nearly 31,000, compared with about 146,000 in Iraq. "For all the good work we have done in that country, it is clear we must do even more," the president said. He announced that a Marine battalion that had been scheduled to go to Iraq in November would go to Afghanistan instead, and that that would be followed by one Army combat brigade. The president acknowledged that the challenges in Afghanistan remain huge. "Unlike Iraq, it has few natural resources and has an underdeveloped infrastructure. Its democratic institutions are fragile," Bush said. "And its enemies are some of the most hardened terrorists and extremists in the world." Bush did not specifically mention, nor apologize for, a controversial US raid in western Afghanistan. But he said he has ensured Afghan President Hamid Karzai that "America will work closely with the Afghan government to ensure the security of the Afghan people while protecting innocent life." An Afghan government commission and a U.N. report both say some 90 civilians -- including 60 children and 15 women -- were killed in the US-led raid last month. The US said Sunday it would reopen its own investigation because of emerging new evidence. The president also did not specifically mention Washington's more aggressive moves of late in Pakistan — portraying the US intentions as only to "help the government of Pakistan defeat Taliban and al-Qaida fighters hiding in remote border regions." US officials are pressing Pakistan to crack down on places from which insurgents stage attacks on American and NATO forces in neighboring Afghanistan. But they appear to be losing patience. A highly unusual US-led ground assault last week in the South Waziristan region of Pakistan was said to have killed about 15 people and prompted loud protests from Islamabad — even threats of a military response to any repeat -- but no public regrets from Washington. |
