Updated at 9:42 a.m., Monday, September 10, 2007
Gen. Petraeus says U.S. troop pullout starts this month
By ANNE FLAHERTY
Associated Press
In long-awaited testimony, the commanding general of the war said last winter's buildup in U.S. troops had met its military objectives "in large measure."
As a result, he told a congressional hearing and a nationwide television audience, "I believe that we will be able to reduce our forces to the pre-surge level ... by next summer without jeopardizing the security gains we have fought so hard to achieve."
Testifying in a military uniform bearing four general's stars and a chestful of medals, Petraeus said he had already provided his views to the military chain of command.
Rebutting charges that he was merely doing the White House's bidding, he said firmly, "I wrote this testimony myself. It has not been cleared by nor shared with anyone in the Pentagon, the White House or the Congress."
The departure of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, from Camp Pendleton, Calif., would be followed in December by the redeployment of an unspecified Army brigade, which would number about 3,500 to 4,000 soldiers
By July 2008 all the extra 30,000 troops sent to Iraq as part of Bush's revised war strategy would be withdrawn, Petraeus said. The combat portion of that force includes five Army brigades, two Marine infantry battalions and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The buildup also included about 8,000 support troops.
Thus by July 2008 the U.S. troop total would be about 130,000, which was where it stood before Bush began his buildup in January.
Petraeus said a decision about further reductions would be made next March.
The five Army brigades that deployed to Iraq between January and June, and which Petraeus said he recommended be withdrawn between December of this year and July 2008, are:
The other portions of the troop buildup that would be withdrawn, Petraeus said, are two Marine battalions: the 2nd Regimental Combat Team and 6th Regimental Combat Team.
MILITARY GAINS HAVE BEEN UNEVEN
Using charts and graphs to illustrate his points, Petraeus conceded that the military gains have been uneven in the months since Bush ordered the buildup last winter.
But he also said that there has been an overall decline in violence and said, "the level of security incidents has declined in eight of the past 12 weeks, with the level of incidents in the past two weeks the lowest since June of 2006."
Petraeus also said the Iraqi military is slowly gaining competence and gradually "taking on more responsibility for their security."
He cited Anbar province as an example of Iraqis turning against terrorists, adding, "we are seeing similar actions in other locations as well."
Petraeus' testimony came at a pivotal moment in the war, with the Democratic-controlled Congress pressing for troop withdrawals and the Bush administration hoping to prevent wholesale Republican defections.
Bush and his political allies have worked forcefully in recent weeks to shore up Republican support. One organization with ties to the administration has spent millions on television advertisements, and Bush traveled to Anbar province last week to highlight improved security in the vast western stretches of Iraq.
Bush also called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the hours before Petraeus spoke, and is expected to deliver a nationwide address on the war in the next few days.
NEW POLLS REFLECT OPPOSITION TO WAR
Despite the administration's efforts, fresh polls reflected significant public opposition to the war. A USA Today-Gallup poll taken in the past few days found that 60 percent of those surveyed favor setting a timetable for removing troops. Only 35 percent favor keeping the troops in Iraq until the situation improves.
Petraeus was one of two witnesses — Ambassador Ryan Crocker was the other — at a nationally televised hearing punctuated by numerous protests by anti-war demonstrators in the audience.
Over and over, Rep. Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat presiding, ordered police to remove the demonstrators. "This is intolerable," he said at one point.
Skelton and fellow lawmakers spoke first, as is customary in Congress, and Petraeus listened to more than 45 minutes of political rhetoric. His testimony was delayed another 10 minutes by a malfunctioning microphone, but when he began to speak, the lawmakers arrayed on the dias across from him listened intently.
