Bush warns against hasty withdrawal in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Bush warns against hasty withdrawal in Iraq
By Deb Riechmann - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jan 31, 2008 20:19:51 EST

LAS VEGAS — President Bush said Thursday he will not jeopardize security gains in Iraq by withdrawing U.S. forces too fast, another signal that troop reductions could slow or stop altogether this summer.

The president said he would resist any temptation to bring troops home to score political points with a war-weary public or compromise with Democrats in Congress seeking to wind down the war.

The U.S. troop commitment is expected to be down to roughly 130,000 to 135,000 by July, the same number as before Bush sent in reinforcements a year ago.

“You know, a lot of folks say, ‘What’s next, Mr. President?’” Bush said. “And my answer is, we have come too far in this important theater in this war on terror not to make sure that we succeed. And therefore, any further troop reductions will be based on commanders and conditions.

“The temptation of course is for people to, you know, say, ‘Make sure you do the politically right thing,’” Bush told members of the Nevada Policy Research Institute. “That’s not my nature. That’s not exactly what we’re going to do.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_iraq_withdrawal_080131/