| President Bush is expected to announce plans to withdraw 30,000 U.S troops from Iraq by the middle of 2008 when he makes a nationally televised speech on Thursday. Mr. Bush's plans likely will mirror a recommendation made by Army General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, during two days of testimony before congressional lawmakers this week. The president is expected to say the troops will be withdrawn only if conditions on the ground are satisfactory. The proposed withdrawal would reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to about 130,000 - the same as before the "surge" earlier this year aimed at reducing sectarian violence. Congressional Democratic leaders criticized Mr. Bush's plan after a meeting with the president Tuesday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was "an insult to the intelligence of the American people." General Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, testified before House and Senate committees earlier this week. General Petraeus says the troop increase has led to decreased violence in Iraq, but he and Crocker cautioned against a premature withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Iraq's national security advisor, Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, told reporters Wednesday that the number of U.S. troops could be reduced to 100,000 by the end of 2008. He says it would depend on the security threat within and outside the country, and the readiness level of Iraqi security forces. |
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