WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- In a long-awaited testimony, top U.S. military commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus painted on Monday a rosy picture of Iraq and proposed a gradual drawdown of troop presence in that country.
General David Petraeus (L), the top U.S. commander in Iraq, meets U.S. soldiers at their military camp in Falluja, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, September 1, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
In the high-profile hearing of a joint session of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, Petraeus said a Marine unit will depart Iraq later this month and recommended cutting U.S. troop levels there by a single combat brigade or 4,000 in mid December.
In his vision, U.S. troop levels in Iraq could drop back to 130,000 next summer, or the level before the Bush administration decided to send 30,000 additional troops to Iraq in January to quell violence.
There are currently 168,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, the highest level since the war began in 2003.
However, Petraeus also warned a "premature" drawdown of U.S. troops from Iraq would be "devastating."
The general also stopped short of saying what is next for U.S. troops in Iraq beyond the summer of 2008.
"Our experience in Iraq has repeatedly shown that projecting too far into the future is not just difficult, it can be misleading and even hazardous," he said.
Responding to pre-hearing criticism that he is repeating the Bush administration line on Iraq, Petraeus in his opening statement said the testimony was his alone.
As expected, the testimony of Petraeus focused on the impact of President George W. Bush's troop "surge plan."
He claimed that the military objectives of the "surge plan" were reached.
"As a bottom line, up front the military objectives of the surge are in large measure being met," said Petraeus.
The general went on to say that tribes and local citizens have rejected al-Qaida and other insurgents, especially in the volatile Anbar province.
He called it as the "most significant development in the past six months."
Petraeus was joined by Ryan Crocker, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, who also testified in the hearing.
Crocker praised the Iraqi leadership for their efforts to form a workable government in the country.
"Iraq's leaders have the will to tackle the country's pressing problems," he said.
The ambassador claimed that the "surge plan" had made a difference.
"We have give Iraqis the time and space to reflect on the king of country they want," he said.
U.S. President George W. Bush will soon present a report to Congress on Iraq war strategy based in part on Petraeus' and Crocker's recommendations.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll taken last month found about two-thirds of Americans which account for 64 percent of the total population oppose the Iraq war, and 72 percent say even if Petraeus reports progress in Iraq, that won't change their opinion.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Under heavy media
spotlight, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq has arrived at the Capitol
Hill Monday to report to the Congress on the situation in that country.
Joined by Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq,
Gen. David Petraeus was seated in a crowded room, prepared to deliver his
testimony before a joint session of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services
committees. Full story
