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Bush defends Iraq 'surge' strategy

Jul 12 2007

Bush defends Iraq 'surge' strategy

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By Agencies

The interim report found the security situation in Iraq 'complex and extremely challenging' [EPA]

The US president has defended his "surge" strategy in Iraq, saying he will wait until September to decide on future policy.

George Bush also said on Thursday that he was sure the US could "succeed in Iraq", despite a report stating only eight of the 18 US benchmarks in Iraq have been achieved satisfactorily.

An interim-assessment report graded performance on security and political benchmarks in Iraq as unsatisfactory on eight counts, satisfactory on another eight and mixed on two others.

Bleak report

The report found that the Baghdad's US-backed government had failed to achieve goals considered necessary to bring sectarian violence under control, such as passing legislation to divide the nation's oil revenues.

Despite the bleak report, Bush said he had "confidence" in Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister.

"Yeah, I've got confidence in him, but I also understand how difficult it is. I'm not making the excuses, but it is hard," said Bush.
Bush signalled he would veto any legislation requiring a 'hasty' withdrawal from Iraq [EPA]

The report said that the security situation in Iraq remains "complex and extremely challenging", and that the level of violence seen in Iraq had "undermined efforts to achieve political reconciliation".

"Amid such violence, it became significantly harder for Iraqi leaders to make the difficult compromises necessary to foster reconciliation," said the report.

Bush highlighted the benchmarks that had been satisfactorily achieved, including Iraqi government's co-operation in letting Iraqi forces combat insurgents and money spent to train and equip its forces.

The report came as several prominent Republicans broke ranks with Bush on Iraq.

Veto threat

Asked about waning Republican support, Bush said he took what was said into account. "I value the advice of those senators, I appreciate their concerns... and I will continue listening to them."

But he said he would also waiting to hear from General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, in September.

"I don't think Congress ought to be running the war"

George Bush,
US president

"I'm waiting for ... David Petraeus to come back and give us the report on what he sees," said Bush.

Some analysts suggested Bush was trying to shift blame on to the military.

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have said they expect to soon pass a bill requiring the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq by April 1, 2008.

But in his press conference, Bush signalled that he would veto any legislation requiring what he described as a hasty withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

"I don't think Congress ought to be running the war," said Bush.

"The idea of [Congress] telling our military how to conduct operations, for example, or how to deal with troop strength, I don't think it makes sense today, nor do I think it's a good precedent for the future."

A USA Today/Gallup poll this week showed more than seven in 10 Americans favour withdrawing nearly all US troops by April.

Bush also blamed Iran and Hezbollah for training armed groups in Iraq ranged against US-led forces.