United States President George W. Bush addressed the U.S. military in Iraq on Monday, saying that a troop cut is possible with success. During his unscheduled visit to Al-Asad air base in Anbar province in Iraq, Bush addressed Marines about the military concerns facing Iraq, but said that with success, the United States could cut the number of troops in the country. The visit comes ahead of next week's progress report to congress from General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and U.S. ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker. This will be Bush's third visit to Iraq. Bush's decision to visit Anbar was strategic because the province is seen as a success story. After hearing from top U.S. and Iraqi leaders, President Bush said Monday that some U.S. troops could be sent home if security conditions across Iraq continue to improve as they have in Anbar. “General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker tell me if the kind of success we're now seeing continues, it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces,” Bush said. Bush urged Congress to wait until they hear testimony from Crocker and Petraeus and see a White House progress report due by September 15 before judging the result of his decision to send an extra 30,000 troops to Iraq. “I urge members of both parties in Congress to listen to what they have to say. We shouldn't jump to conclusions until the general and the ambassador report,” Bush said. During his visit, Bush also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other top government officials from Baghdad. He urged the government to respond to progress in Anbar where violence has abated after Sunni tribal leaders and former insurgents teamed up with U.S. troops to hunt down al-Qaida and other extremists.
