US:THE TOP United States military commander in Iraq has told senators that progress there is "fragile and reversible" and called for an indefinite halt to troop withdrawals in the summer. Gen David Petraeus said that once the last of 20,000 extra troops sent to Iraq last year come home in July there should be a 45-day pause before any further withdrawals are considered.
"This approach does not allow establishment of a set withdrawal timetable," he said. "However, it does provide the flexibility those of us on the ground need to preserve the still-fragile security gains our troopers have fought so far and sacrificed so much to achieve."
Gen Petraeus faced questions from presidential candidates John McCain and Hillary Clinton when he testified before the Senate armed services committee yesterday. Barack Obama, who is a member of the senate foreign relations committee, was due to question Gen Petraeus later yesterday.
Mr McCain used his opening statement as the ranking Republican on the committee to criticise Democrats, including his presidential rivals, for demanding a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.
"We are no longer staring at the abyss of defeat, and we can now look ahead to the genuine prospect of success," Mr McCain said.
"Success is within reach. Yet should the United States instead choose to withdraw from Iraq before adequate security is established, we will exchange for this victory, a defeat that is terrible and long lasting." As a relatively junior member of the committee, Mrs Clinton had to wait a couple of hours to quiz Gen Petraeus and US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, who was also testifying. She began with a swipe at Mr McCain, who had described as "irresponsible" the policies on Iraq embraced by both Democratic candidates.
"I fundamentally disagree," Mrs Clinton said. "Rather, I think it could be fair to say that it might well be irresponsible to continue the policy that has not produced the results that have been promised time and time again at such tremendous cost to our national security and to the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military."
Mrs Clinton said the surge in US troops had failed in its stated mission of creating the space for the Iraqis to engage in reconciliation and make political progress.
"For the past five years, we have continually heard from the administration that things are getting better, that we're about to turn a corner, that there is, finally, a resolution in sight. Yet each time, Iraqi leaders fail to deliver," she said.
"I think it's time to begin an orderly process of withdrawing our troops, start rebuilding our military and focusing on the challenges posed by Afghanistan, the global terrorist groups and other problems that confront America."
A number of senators, including Mrs Clinton, questioned Mr Crocker about a proposed framework agreement between Washington and Baghdad which would provide for an extended US military presence in Iraq.
"The agreement will not establish permanent bases in Iraq, and we anticipate that it will expressly forswear them. The agreement will not specify troop levels, and it will not tie the hands of the next administration," Mr Crocker said.
He added, however, that as an "executive agreement" the plan would not be submitted to Congress for approval, although the Iraqis are expected to debate it in parliament.
Gen Petraeus described the security situation in Iraq as improved since he last appeared before Congress in September. He complained of Iranian support for insurgents and said that withdrawing US forces too quickly would jeopardise the progress achieved.
"What we have is a number of factors that we will consider by area as we look at where we can make recommendations for further reductions beyond the reduction of the surge forces that will be complete in July," he said.
"These factors are fairly clear. There's obviously an enemy situation factor, there's a friendly situation factor with respect to Iraqi forces, local governance, even economic and political dynamics, all of which are considered as the factors in making recommendations on further reductions."
President George Bush plans to make a speech on his plans for Iraq tomorrow.