Bush Defends Decision to Halt US Troop Withdrawals From Iraq

President Bush is defending his decision to halt troop withdrawals from Iraq while military leaders assess how a reduced American presence will affect security there. During his weekly radio address Saturday, the president said America must stand with the Iraqi government as it makes the transition to responsibility for its own security and political affairs.

Mr. Bush said a U.S. troop surge 15 months ago has significantly improved security and cleared the way for political and economic progress in Iraq.

The President said he has given the U.S. commander in Iraq all the time he needs to decide if security conditions are stable enough to continue withdrawing U.S. troops.

Earlier this week, General David Petraeus reported that while security in Iraq has improved, it is still fragile and reversible.

President Bush this week accepted the general’s recommendation that troop withdrawals be suspended starting in July.

That is expected to leave about 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq after a new U.S president is elected in November.

by VOA News

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