President Bush has finally succumbed to the pressure to reconsider his policies for war against terror in Iraq since there is growing discontent among the Iraqis and recurrent opposition from the Democrats. Bush signaled to contemplate closely at a post-surge strategy in Iraq.
President Bush vetoed $ 100 billion bill on May 1 that stipulates the bill to troops’ withdrawal. Since Bush is under US public pressure because of troops’ casualties, Democrats opposing Bush’s policies vehemently and mainly because of his party’s perspectives in the presidential elections to be held next year. Notwithstanding, it is evident that there is distrust in Iraqi people and parliament for the growing civilian casualties and a bill by Iraqi parliament to delineate the timetable for the gradual retreat of the coalition force is the very much quintessence of the fact.
Bush, however, responded to the bill by the Iraqi parliament in the following way-
We are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government. This is a sovereign nation and if they were to say ‘leave,’ we would leave.
On the other hand, US and Iran are also holding a meeting in Baghdad today on the security scenario in Iraq. Security scenario in Iraq is under challenge as sectarian violence is surmounting and terrorists are causing havoc on coalition forces. Although the deployment of 30,000 additional US troops is awaited, yet Bush hinted that US strategy might change if additional forces will stem sectarian violence in Baghdad.
Finally, Bush has decided to withdraw the troops from Iraq and US troops will probably be reduced from 150,000 to 100,000 by March 2008. Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader, Harry M. Reid said that the plan-
Sounds to me like the president have a Plan B after all, and that it includes timelines for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Amid the suspicion of troops’ withdrawal and growing distrust among Iraqis, US plan to fight against al-Qaeda and to train the Iraqi army to face any upheaval after Troops’ withdrawal will provide ample time for Iraq to grow politically stable. If this doesn’t happen, I think, there is no reason for US forces to stay in Iraq with huge army to fight against terror.
Image credit: Cbsnews
Source: Washingtonpost
