WASHINGTON -- President Bush's top two military and political advisers on Iraq will warn Congress on Monday that making any significant changes to the current war strategy will jeopardize the limited security and political progress made so far, the Associated Press has learned.
U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who has been less forthcoming than Gen. David Petraeus in advance of his testimony, will join Petraeus in pushing for maintaining the U.S. troop surge, seeing it as the only viable option to prevent Iraq and the region from plunging into further chaos, U.S. officials said.
Crocker and Petraeus planned to meet today to go over their remarks and responses to expected tough questioning from lawmakers. But they will not consult Bush or their immediate bosses before their appearances Monday and Tuesday, to preserve the ''independence and the integrity of their testimony,'' one official said.
Petraeus and Crocker did have lengthy discussions with the president, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when Bush visited Iraq on Labor Day.
Crocker and Petraeus will say the buildup of 30,000 troops, bringing the U.S. total to nearly 170,000, has had some success and is working better than any previous effort to quell the insurgency and restore stability, officials said.
Bush plans a nationally televised address this week to ''lay out a vision'' about the U.S. role.
In Baghdad on Saturday, a suicide car bomber detonated his Mercedes near stores in the Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City, killing at least 15, officials said.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who has been less forthcoming than Gen. David Petraeus in advance of his testimony, will join Petraeus in pushing for maintaining the U.S. troop surge, seeing it as the only viable option to prevent Iraq and the region from plunging into further chaos, U.S. officials said.
Crocker and Petraeus planned to meet today to go over their remarks and responses to expected tough questioning from lawmakers. But they will not consult Bush or their immediate bosses before their appearances Monday and Tuesday, to preserve the ''independence and the integrity of their testimony,'' one official said.
Petraeus and Crocker did have lengthy discussions with the president, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when Bush visited Iraq on Labor Day.
Crocker and Petraeus will say the buildup of 30,000 troops, bringing the U.S. total to nearly 170,000, has had some success and is working better than any previous effort to quell the insurgency and restore stability, officials said.
Bush plans a nationally televised address this week to ''lay out a vision'' about the U.S. role.
In Baghdad on Saturday, a suicide car bomber detonated his Mercedes near stores in the Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City, killing at least 15, officials said.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
LinksMarker is a Web 2.0 content management system
Comments