[NYTr] Bush asks Congress to back troop levels

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AP - Sep 18, 2007
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUSH?SITE=TXHOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Bush asks Congress to back troop levels

By JENNIFER LOVEN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush, cheered on by Iraq war veterans and
their families on the White House's South Lawn, urged lawmakers Tuesday
to back his plan to withdraw some troops from Iraq but keep at least
130,000 through next summer or longer.

"I ask the United States Congress to support the troop levels and the
strategies I have embraced," Bush said, to loud cheers and chants of
"USA! USA!"

The president briefly addressed about 850 members of military support
organizations who were invited to the White House for coffee, juice and
pastries. With almost everyone wearing red shirts, people from several
organizations gathered at picnic tables set up on the South Lawn in the
morning sun.

Among the groups gathered at picnic tables set up on the South Lawn
were Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission, Vets for
Freedom, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars
organizations. Along with the president and his wife, Laura, other top
administration officials also attended the event, including Vice
President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Bush offered sympathy to those in the crowd who lost a loved one in the
war, and he thanked war veterans as well as active-duty military
members.

"On this beautiful morning, we thank you for your steadfast resolve,"
he said, before lingering to shake hands and mingle with the crowd.

The president's remarks were greeted with full-throated support from
the crowd, including occasional shouts of "We love you."

Bush asked his guests to deliver a message when they meet with
lawmakers on Capitol Hill: "The commander in chief wants to succeed."

"If we were to retreat from the Middle East, the enemy would not be
content to remain where they are," he said. "They would follow us."

The president last week announced plans for a limited drawdown in Iraq,
including bringing home 5,700 troops by Christmas followed by more for
a total of about 21,500 by next summer. But his plan calls for combat
forces to remain around the level they were before this year's buildup
through next summer, and some force would stay in Iraq well past 2008.

Bush gave a nationally broadcast address from the Oval Office on his
new plan last Thursday night, two days after the commanding general of
U.S. forces in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan
Crocker, completed testimony on the war before congressional committees.

The Senate is scheduled to resume debate this week on anti-war
legislation, including a proposal to require that troops have as much
time at their home station as they do deployed to Iraq.

Also Tuesday, Democratic congressional leaders appeared with about 50
veterans opposed to the president's strategy in Iraq.

"W need to refocus on the war on terror," said Jon Soltz, co-founder of
Votevets, which is sending members around Capitol Hill to lobby on its
position. "Right now, we have a policy where 90 percent of our military
is stuck in Iraq. We need to have a strategy ... dedicated to
destroying al-Qaida."

© 2007 The Associated Press.