U.S. President George W. Bush speaks to
U.S. soldiers based at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait Jan. 12, 2008.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President
George W. Bush said on Saturday that his country is on track to complete the
planned withdrawal of 20,000 troops from Iraq by mid-year.
Speaking at the U.S. military base of Camp Arifjan in
Kuwait, Bush said "the only thing I can tell you is we're on track for what
we've said was going to happen," according to local media.
He said that the build-up of U.S. troops in Iraq has
improved security in Iraq embracing "significantly reduced" violence, "allowing
some U.S. forces to return home."
"Levels of violence are significantly reduced. Hope
is returning to Baghdad," he said, noting that the al-Qaida network in Iraq had
been "dealt heavy blows."
He, however, reaffirmed his stance that reduced force
levels will depend on conditions in Iraq and asked Gen. David Petraeus, the top
U.S. commander in Iraq, to make the decision.
Gen. Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan
Crocker are scheduled to make a recommendation to Congress in March.
"My attitude is if he (Gen. Petraeus) didn't want to
continue the drawdown, that's fine with me," Bush said.
After the report of Petraeus and Crocker to Congress
in September, Bush announced the partial troops withdrawal from Iraq by July.
Bush, who arrived in Kuwait on Friday evening after
visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories, met with Petraeus and Crocker
at Camp Arifjan, which serves as a staging ground for forces deploying to
Iraq.
U.S. President George W. Bush speaks to U.S.
military personnel stationed in Kuwait at Camp Arifjan Jan. 12, 2008.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S.
President George W. Bush said Saturday that the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq
has improved security in Iraq embracing "significantly reduced" violence and
further troops withdrawal depends on conditions on the ground.
At the U.S. military base of Camp
Arifjan in Kuwait, Bush said that no decision has been made on bringing more
U.S. troops home from Iraq, according to local media reports. Full story
KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S.
President George W. Bush warned Saturday against Syria and Iran's fuelling
violence in Iraq.
Bush made the warning while speaking to reporters
after meeting his top political and military commanders in Iraq at the U.S.
military base of Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Full story
KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S.
President George W. Bush here Saturday discussed the Iraqi situation with his
top political advisors and military commanders in Iraq.
According to media reports, Bush, who arrived here on
the first leg of a four-nation Gulf tour after visiting Israel and the
Palestinian territories, met with General David Petraeus, the commander of U.S.
forces in Iraq, and with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker at Camp Arifjan, a
U.S. military base, which serves as a staging ground for forces deploying to
Iraq. Full story
U.S. President George W. Bush (R) is
greeted by Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah at a welcoming
ceremony at Kuwait International Airport, Jan. 11, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W.
Bush arrived in Kuwait on Friday to start his two-day visit to the country.
Bush flew to the oil-rich country after wrapping up
his first official visit to Israel and the Palestinian lands as the U.S.
president. Full story
