Combat troop tours in Iraq cut to one year
Washington, 31 July (IranVNC)—President George W. Bush today told reporters that because of progress made in the Iraq war, the duration of troop tours would be reduced from 15 to 12 months.
By: IranVNC
Published: Thursday, July 31, 2008
12:55 GMT—8:55 AM/EST
IRAQ – WAR – US – BUSH – TROOPS
Washington, 31 July (IranVNC)—President George W. Bush today told reporters that because of progress made in the Iraq war, the duration of troop tours would be reduced from 15 to 12 months.
Speaking at the White House, Bush said that, violence in Iraq had decreased substantially in the past weeks and that a reduction “will relieve the burden on our forces and it will make life easier for our wonderful military families.”
But Bush said that the top US commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker “caution that the progress is still reversible, and they report that there now appears to be a degree of durability to the gains that we have made.”
The president went on to say that the next recommendation from military leaders will probably be “further reductions in our combat forces, as conditions permit.”
About 147,000 troops remain in Iraq, and Washington is still in negotiations with the Iraqi government on setting timelines for troop withdrawals from the region.
Sources: White House website, Associated Press
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