US Senator Warner urges Bush to begin Iraq pullout

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Source: CCTV.com | 08-24-2007 15:07

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., discusses his recent trip to Iraq during a news conference in Washington Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

A leading Republican member of the U.S. Senate has called on President George W. Bush to initiate plans for withdrawing American troops from Iraq. The call came after a draft intelligence report was declassified. It portrays a bleak assessment of the situation in Iraq.

On Thursday, Senator John Warner of Virginia suggested that Bush make an announcement on September 15, that he plans to withdraw troops from Iraq.

John Warner said, "I think no clearer form of that than if the President were to announce on the 15 that in consultation with our senior military commanders, he's decided to initiate the first step in a withdrawal of our forces."

Warner said the troop withdrawals are needed because Iraqi leaders have failed to make substantial political progress -- despite an influx of U.S. troops initiated by Bush this year.

However, Warner said he was opposed to a rapid withdrawal. Hours earlier, a National Intelligence Estimate was released. The ten page document warned the Iraqi government will become increasingly unsteady in the next six to 12 months.

It also expressed doubts that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government can overcome sectarian divisions and meet benchmarks intended to promote political unity.

Also on Thursday, the White House acknowledged frustrations with the Maliki government. It said it would not consider any possible withdrawal talks until the next update from military commanders in September.

President Bush touched a nerve domestically on Wednesday, warning that death and chaos will envelop Iraq if US troops leave too quickly.

Editor:Du Xiaodan