Bush Visits Iraq, Says Some Troops Might Come Home

Surprise war council in Iraq points to improving security
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 3, 2007 12:17 PM CDT
Bush Visits Iraq, Says Some Troops Might Come Home
President Bush, right, shakes hands with with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, left, as President Jalal Talabani, second from left, looks on at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007. The president made an unannounced visit to Iraq to meet with Gen. David Petraeus, commanding...   (Associated Press)

Fewer US troops will be needed in Iraq if security conditions continue to improve, said President Bush today during a surprise visit to Iraq. The pronouncement came after meeting with Gen. David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, and US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker–both of whom will be testifying before Congress next week on the status of the Iraq war.

Speaking from Anbar Province, where Sunni insurgency has been quelled due in part the  troop surge, Bush urged Congress to withhold judgment until Petraeus submitted his report, due September 15. Bush was flanked by his war cabinet for the first time in Iraq–Secretary of State Condi Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs  Peter Pace. (More Baghdad stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X