IRAQ: US commander sees encouraging signs in Baghdad, says no need now for more Iraq troops

Record ID: 555942

  • Title: IRAQ: US commander sees encouraging signs in Baghdad, says no need now for more Iraq troops
  • Date: 8th March 2007
  • Summary: (BN09) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 8, 2007) (REUTERS) U.S. GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS GIVES NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS SAYING: "While too early to discern significant trends, there have been a few encouraging signs." U.S. GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS SPEAKING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS SAYING: "Right now, we do not see other requests (for troops) looming out there. That's not to say that some emerging mission or emerging task will not require that and if it does then course we will ask for that." NEWS CONFERENCE FINISHING
  • Embargoed: 23rd March 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA9NI8HXSJ1IDBWH4KAPRSG8I3T
  • Story Text: In his first news conference since taking command of U.S. forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus says there are signs of encouragement and currently no need for more requests for extra troops. A U.S.-backed Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad will take months and sensational attacks will continue, but there have been encouraging signs of progress, the U.S. commander in Iraq said on Thursday (March 8).
    General David Petraeus, at his first news conference in Baghdad since taking command of U.S. forces in Iraq last month, said sectarian killings and displacement were down in recent weeks in the capital.
    "While too early to discern significant trends, there have been a few encouraging signs," he said.
    Petraeus said that U.S. and Iraqi forces would press ahead with the plan while recognising that some sensational attacks inevitably will continue to take place.
    Petraeus said he had discussed with his second-in-command whether he had enough troops for his current mission in Iraq. He said he currently saw no immediate need to request more U.S. troops other those already announced.
    "Right now we do not see other requests (for troops) looming out there. That's not to say that some emerging mission or emerging task will not require that, and if it does then course we will ask for that," Petraeus said.
    Asked about reports that his second-in-command General Raymond Odierno had recommended the additional 21,500 troops to be sent to reinforce a current security crackdown should stay in Iraq until early 2008, he said he had made no decision yet on how long the extra troops would be needed.
    Petraeus took command of U.S. troops in Iraq last month at a critical time, having been appointed to oversee President George W. Bush's new strategy in Iraq, focusing on halting the daily carnage of suicide bombs and death squad killings in Baghdad.
    On Tuesday (March 6), a senior Pentagon official said the number of U.S. troops needed to carry out Bush's Iraq security plan could approach 30,000, significantly more than projected in January.
    There are nearly 140,000 U.S. troops already fighting in Iraq, where sectarian violence has thwarted American efforts to bring the 4-year-old war to a close.
    YL/JRC/AD
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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