Iraq report could see troop withdrawal

US troops could begin withdrawing from Iraq this month after a top general claimed military objectives in the strife-torn state are now being met.

General David Petraeus gave Congress an upbeat assessment of progress since a US troop surge and recommended the drawback of forces start now.

He said Iraqi security forces continued to "shoulder more of the load" and predicted the US would be able to reduce troop levels to pre-surge numbers by next summer.

In his testimony, which was broadcast live across the US, Gen Petraeus told the House Foreign Affairs and House Armed Services committees in Washington DC that by July 2008 all the extra 30,000 troops sent to Iraq as part of US President George W Bush's revised war strategy would be withdrawn.

Gen Petraeus said he foresaw even deeper troop cuts beyond July 2008 but he recommended that President George W Bush wait until March 2008 to decide when to go below 130,000 - and at what pace - amid a transition of US military missions.

The general said: "As a bottom line up front, the military objectives of the surge are, in large measure being met."

He continued: "Though the improvements have been uneven across Iraq, the overall number of security incidents in Iraq has declined in eight of the past 12 weeks, with the number of incidents in the past two weeks at the lowest level seen since June 2006."

"I believe that we will be able to reduce our forces to the pre-surge level of brigade combat teams by next summer without jeopardising the security gains we have fought so hard to achieve.

"I believe Iraq's problems will require a long-term effort. There are no easy answers or quick solutions. And although we both believe this effort can succeed, it will take time.

"Our assessments underscore, in fact, the importance of recognising that a premature draw down of our forces would likely have devastating consequences."

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