Bush: U.S. to withdraw 20,000 troops from Iraq by mid-year

Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

·Bush said his country is on track to complete the planned withdrawal of 20,000 troops.
·"Levels of violence are significantly reduced. Hope is returning to Baghdad," Bush said.
·He reaffirmed his stance that reduced force levels will depend on conditions in Iraq.

U.S. President George W. Bush speaks to U.S. soldiers based at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait Jan. 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Photo Gallery>>>

KUWAIT CITY, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said on Saturday that his country is on track to complete the planned withdrawal of 20,000 troops from Iraq by mid-year.

Speaking at the U.S. military base of Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, Bush said "the only thing I can tell you is we're on track for what we've said was going to happen," according to local media.

He said that the build-up of U.S. troops in Iraq has improved security in Iraq embracing "significantly reduced" violence, "allowing some U.S. forces to return home."

"Levels of violence are significantly reduced. Hope is returning to Baghdad," he said, noting that the al-Qaida network in Iraq had been "dealt heavy blows."

He, however, reaffirmed his stance that reduced force levels will depend on conditions in Iraq and asked Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, to make the decision.

Gen. Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are scheduled to make a recommendation to Congress in March.

"My attitude is if he (Gen. Petraeus) didn't want to continue the drawdown, that's fine with me," Bush said.

After the report of Petraeus and Crocker to Congress in September, Bush announced the partial troops withdrawal from Iraq by July.

Bush, who arrived in Kuwait on Friday evening after visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories, met with Petraeus and Crocker at Camp Arifjan, which serves as a staging ground for forces deploying to Iraq.

U.S. President George W. Bush speaks to U.S. military personnel stationed in Kuwait at Camp Arifjan Jan. 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Photo Gallery>>>

Related:

Bush: troops withdrawal from Iraq depends on conditions

Bush warns against Syria, Iran's fuelling violence in Iraq

Bush, top aides discuss Iraqi situation in Kuwait

Bush arrives in Kuwait

	Bush arrives in Kuwait
	Bush leaves Israel for Kuwait
	U.S. confirms British decision to withdraw troops from Iraq
	U.S. says not oppose Britain's plan to withdraw 1,000 troops from Iraq
	U.S.: Anti-war demonstrators call on Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq