Security gains 'fragile' in Iraq, Petraeus warns
General cites recent rise in violence and urges senators to halt troop withdrawals for at least 45 days this summer.
WASHINGTON — Arguing for a continuing U.S. troop presence, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus told Congress today that the recent flare-up of violence across Iraq demonstrates that recent security improvements are "fragile and reversible."
The top U.S. commander said that troop reductions begun in December should continue through July, but that withdrawals should halt after that for at least 45 days. Petraeus said that further cuts would depend on progress in security, leading Democrats to charge that that Petraeus was calling for an open-ended U.S. presence.
Petraeus said after completion of planned troop reductions in July, the 45-day delay would allow a period of "consolidation and evaluation." After that, he said, officials would begin a process to determine when to issue new recommendations on further troop withdrawals.
Petraeus said there would be no timetable for further troop cuts.
"Withdrawing too many forces too quickly could jeopardize the progress of the last year," Petraeus said.
Progress since September has been significant but uneven, Petraeus said. Despite recent fighting and violence in Basra and elsewhere, including deadly attacks on Baghdad's heavily fortified "green zone," Petraeus argued that violence has continued to decline since his last report in September and was "significantly better" than when the U.S. troop buildup began in January 2007.
Petraeus appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee with Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, the top American diplomat in Baghdad, to give his second major public update on the course of the Iraq war.
His recommendation for a "pause" in troop reductions this summer was expected, and pointed to the likelihood of large numbers of U.S. troops in Iraq through the end of the Bush administration next year.
"This process will be continuous, with recommendations for further reductions made as conditions permit," Petraeus said. "This approach does not allow establishment of a set withdrawal timetable; however, it does provide the flexibility those of us on the ground need to preserve the still fragile security gains our troopers have fought and sacrificed so much to achieve."
In the morning hearing before the armed services committee, Petraeus and Crocker faced two presidential candidates, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). In a hearing this afternoon before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, they will face a third presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)
