美国布什总统下令7月以后美军暂停撤离伊拉克，并缩短新派美军的轮换期。布什星期四在白宫发表的重要讲话中位他的伊拉克战争政策进行了辩护。他说这项政策减少了教派间的暴力以及平民和军队的伤亡。
他说，由于15个月前开始的美军增兵，美国和伊拉克的军队在战争中先发制人，恢复了取得胜利的希望。但是布什总统承认，目前仍存在麻烦，包括基地组织以及伊朗支持的武装。
布什总统接受驻伊拉克美军最高指挥官彼得雷乌克斯提出的建议。彼得雷乌斯将军说，美军应该7月开始暂停撤离伊拉克，让指挥官有时间对安全状况进行评估。按照这一计划，预计美国11月选出新总统后，还会有大约14万美军留在伊拉克。
President Bush has ordered a suspension of U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq after July and shortened tours for incoming troops. In a major speech on the war at the White House Thursday, Mr. Bush defended his war policy, saying it has reduced sectarian violence and civilian and military deaths.
He said thanks to a surge in U.S. troops 15 months ago, U.S. and Iraqi forces have the initiative in the war and the prospect of success has been revived. But Mr. Bush acknowledged complications remain, including al-Qaida and Iranian-backed fighters.
President Bush is accepting the recommendations of his top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus on the war. The general says U.S. troop withdrawals should be suspended starting in July to allow time for commanders to evaluate security conditions. That is expected to leave about 140-thousand troops on the ground in Iraq after a new U.S. president is elected in November.