Continuing to float the possibility of “fewer troops” in Iraq, President Bush is now hinting that he might announce such a policy shift during a speech to the nation next week.
During a news conference in Australia late Tuesday, Bush told reporters that if security conditions in Iraq continue to “improve the way they have been improving … we may be able to provide the same security with fewer troops.”
But he cautioned that nothing will be made final until after he and Congress are briefed next week by Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Bush reiterated his opposition to a precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, which he visited earlier this week.
“I’m not interested in artificial timetables or dates of withdrawal; I’m interested in achieving objective,” he said. “If you think it’s not important that we’re there, then you’re going to find excuses to get out. If you think it is important to be there, then you ought to be thinking about ways to achieve our objectives. And we are achieving our objectives.”
By entertaining the possibility of withdrawing at least some troops, Bush hopes to undermine Democratic plans to force an abrupt end to the war. Still, he remained coy about whether he would formally propose a smaller force in Iraq.
“Whether or not that’s the part of the policy I announce to the nation when I get back from this trip – after the Congress has been briefed by David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker – why don’t we see what they say?” Bush said. “And then I’ll let you know what our position is and what our strategy is.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Petrino indicated that plans for a speech to the nation “are still finalizing.” She added that “it will be after the testimony” of Petraeus and Crocker.
