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Bush says next few months critical in Iraq
25.5.2007
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May 25, 2007
President Bush says U.S. troops in Iraq face a
critical time during the next few months as they try
to implement his new strategy. VOA White House
Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, the last of the
additional 30,000 troops Mr. Bush is sending to Iraq
should be in place by the middle of June.
President Bush says Americans should expect more
casualties as the full complement of forces in this
troop surge enter combat.
"As these reinforcements carry out their missions,
the enemies of a free Iraq, including al-Qaida and
illegal militias, will continue to bomb and murder
in an attempt to stop us," he said. "We are going to
expect heavy fighting in the [next] weeks and
months. We can expect more American and Iraqi
casualties." |
U.S. President George W. Bush J. Photo:White House |
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The president is trying to rally public support for
a war that most Americans now believe is a mistake.
An Associated Press poll this month showed nearly
two thirds of Americans disapprove of his handling
of the war.
Mr. Bush told reporters in the Rose Garden that he
understands that frustration, but is confident that
defeating terrorists in Iraq is central to America's
national security.
"It is a tough fight and it has obviously had an
effect on the American people," he said. "Americans
want to know when you are going to win."
The president says victory will come when Iraq is
stable enough to be an ally in the war on terror,
govern itself, and defend itself.
Earlier this month, Mr. Bush said the troop surge
was beginning to show signs of progress by reducing
sectarian violence in the capital.
Asked about reports that Baghdad morgue data show an
increase in such killings, the president said there
has been an uptick in violence. He called it a
snapshot, a moment that will be included in a
September assessment of the troops surge by General
David Petraeus.
Democrats in Congress say they want to see
significant progress in that report or they will
again consider cutting funds for the war.
Democrats have dropped their demands for a timetable
for a troop withdrawal in a revised war funding bill
that is expected to pass both the House and Senate.
The $120 billion measure funds military operations
through September and includes billions of dollars
for domestic projects as well as an increase in the
minimum wage.
It includes a set of political and security
benchmarks the Iraqi government must achieve or risk
losing vital reconstruction aid. But those are not
the binding timetables originally sought by
Democrats in legislation the president vetoed
earlier this month.
voanews com
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