US policy in Iraq to shift from combat to a support role

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-01-2006 14:30

US President George W. Bush is returning to Washington from a two-day visit to Jordan, where he met Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Their talks coincided with reports that a special commission on US policy in Iraq will recommend the US military shift from combat to a support role.

In a Thursday meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister, US President George W. Bush ruled out any partition of Iraq.

George W. Bush, US President said, "The prime minister made clear that splitting his country into parts, as some have suggested, is not what the Iraqi people want and that any partition of Iraq would only lead to an increase in sectarian violence. I agree."

Maliki expressed his commitment to fighting terrorism.

He said, "We assure everybody that we're in alliance with the international community in facing all the challenges that the world is facing. And foremost in those challenges is terrorism."

The two leaders' talks coincide with leaked recommendations from a special commission on US policy in Iraq.

An official has said the bipartisan commission, led by longtime Bush family friend James Baker, will urge a pullback of some US troops, but will not recommend a timetable for withdrawing all US forces.

The Iraq Study Group's report, to be released next Wednesday, will press for a greater shift in responsibility for the country's security from American to Iraqi forces.

It will also indicate that the presence of US troops is part of the problem in Iraq, and urge a major push to engage Syria and Iran in diplomacy.

Editor:Du Xiaodan