Bush won't order new Iraq troop drawdowns

Democratic presidential contender Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., said the American people have run out of time and patience on Iraq. She said the military buildup has failed to yield political progress in Iraq, and that if elected, she will end the war responsibly. “It’s time for the president to answer the question being asked of him: In the wake of the failed surge, what is the endgame in Iraq?”

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said he was glad Bush had decided to shorten active duty deployments because the longer tours, he said, have caused good soldiers to leave the Army. But he said he did not think the step went far enough to repair the readiness problems facing the Army.

Gates, meanwhile, told a Senate panel Thursday that he has abandoned hope that troop levels in Iraq will drop to 100,000 by the end of the year.

He said he expects that Petraeus will be able to make an assessment of further drawdowns by mid-September.

Last fall, the secretary said he held out hope that troop levels in Iraq could continue to drop through this year. While he would not put a specific number troop levels, he agreed at the time that a consistent reduction would have left about 10 brigades — or roughly 100,000 troops — by the end of the year.

Veto threatened on spending
Bush also called on Congress to send him a spending bill for Iraq that does not include any timetables for troop withdrawals or exceed the $108 billion he has requested. Last spring, Congress added $17 billion in unrequested domestic add-ons such as children’s health care, homeland security and heating subsidies.

Now, Democrats are eyeing using this year’s war funding bill to stimulate the economy with road-building funds, additional unemployment benefits, a summer jobs program and additional food stamp benefits. The measure is slated to advance later this spring.

Bush said he would veto the spending measure if Congress fails to meet his conditions.

“While this war is difficult, it is not endless,” Bush said in a message directed to troops, but surely to the American public as well.

The president said that only as conditions in Iraq improve will he bring more troops home, a policy he calls “return on success.”

“The day will come when Iraq is a capable partner of the United States,” Bush said. “The day will come when Iraq’s a stable democracy that helps fight our common enemies and promote our common interests in the Middle East.

“And when that day arrives, you’ll come home with pride in your success,” Bush said to the military and U.S. civilians in Iraq.

Iran threat cited
Bush used his speech to challenge Iran anew. He said the regime in Tehran has a choice to make: live in peace with its neighbor, or continue to fund and train militant groups that terrorize Iraqi people — charges that the Tehran government denies.

“If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq,” Bush said. “Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests, and our troops, and our Iraqi partners.”

After his remarks, Bush boarded a helicopter on the South Lawn to begin a journey to Texas for a weekend at his ranch.

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