Further troop cuts in Iraq within Bush's term unlikely

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- There will be no more U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq beyond the planned draw down after the "surge" plan ends this summer, according to a new blueprint presented to U.S. President George W. Bush by top U.S. officials in Iraq.

Bush did not announce a final decision after Monday's video briefing by top U.S. commander in Iraq, David H. Petraeus, and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker, but it appears likely that any decision on major reductions in troop levels will be left to the next president, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

That ensures that the question over what comes next will remain in the center of the presidential campaign through election day in November.

Petraeus, speaking to Bush via video-conference during a two-hour meeting of the National Security Council, recommended putting off decisions on further troop reductions for a month or two after the departure in July of five extra brigades sent last year to help secure the nation, the newspaper quoted administration officials as saying.

The officials said Bush and Petraeus, recognizing public and the Congress' wariness about the toll of the war, will publicly hold out the possibility of withdrawing more troops, but only if conditions allowed it.

The president, in particular, is eager to end his presidency with the appearance that things are getting better in Iraq.

What is new in the plan is that there will be a review of conditions in Iraq roughly once a month, as opposed to the large, formal reviews that have taken place every six months, in order to prevent long debates.