Bush admits to flaws in Iraq strategy

WASHINGTON: The Iraqi government has failed to meet half the benchmarks outlined by the US Congress, including adequate progress toward national reconciliation or completion of an important oil revenue sharing law, the White House said in a report.

President George W Bush, however, said the report released Thursday was “cause for optimism”, pointing to improved security since his troop build-up as a crucial step toward progress on the political front, namely at bringing Iraq’s rival ethnic and religious groups closer together.

“Our strategy is built on the premise that progress on security will pave the way for political progress,” Bush said at a press conference following the report’s release. “So it’s not surprising that political progress is lagging behind the security gains we are seeing.”

The congressionally mandated report was seen as a preliminary update ahead of a second, more exhaustive report due in mid-September. Bush reiterated Thursday that he would wait until the September report before considering any changes. He believes it will provide a more thorough assessment because the troop surge he ordered in January only reached its full level during the last few weeks.

But the latest report has fuelled criticism and emboldened Democratic demands that their Republican counterparts abandon Bush and vote in favour of legislation setting a timeframe for the withdrawal of American troops. “While we’re waiting for Republican senators to build up their political courage, the casualties are building up in Iraq,” Senator Richard Durbin told reporters after Bush’s appearance.

The US Senate is set to begin debate on an amendment next week that will call for the beginning of redeployment within 120 days of passage and an end to the combat role by April 2008. The House voted 223-201 in favour of a similar bill Thursday. Democratic lawmakers have previously failed to legislate withdrawal deadlines because of a presidential veto.

Bush, however, is now facing discord within his own ranks. Several Republican senators have said they no longer support Bush’s policy and two have declared they will vote in favour of deadlines. Bush acknowledged that people were “tired of the war” in Iraq, but insisted the war was winnable and pleaded for more time to allow an additional 20,000 troops sent to Iraq to have an impact.

“There’s war fatigue in America. It’s affecting our psychology,” Bush said. “I believe we can succeed, and I believe we are making security progress that will enable the political track to succeed as well.”