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Bush reshuffles war zone troops Bush reshuffles war zone troops
(10 minutes later)
US President George W Bush has ordered about 8,000 troops back from Iraq and about 4,500 reinforcements to go to Afghanistan by February. US President George W Bush has announced that about 8,000 US troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by February - with 4,500 being sent to Afghanistan.
He argued that reduced violence levels in Iraq allowed for a "quiet surge" of troops in Afghanistan and the moves will be completed by February. He argued that reduced violence levels in Iraq allowed for a "quiet surge" of troops in Afghanistan.
There are currently 146,000 US troops in Iraq and 33,000 in Afghanistan.There are currently 146,000 US troops in Iraq and 33,000 in Afghanistan.
Mr Bush was immediately accused by US Democrats of not moving fast enough to redeploy forces from Iraq. US presidential candidate Barack Obama said Mr Bush was "tinkering around the edges" and not addressing the urgency of the Afghan crisis.
Mr Obama said America's security priority was the militant challenge in Afghanistan and Pakistan on which Mr Bush did not have a comprehensive strategy.
This modest reshuffle is likely to be Mr Bush's last significant policy initiative on the issue which more than any other will shape the way history views his presidency, the BBC's Kevin Connolly reports from Washington.This modest reshuffle is likely to be Mr Bush's last significant policy initiative on the issue which more than any other will shape the way history views his presidency, the BBC's Kevin Connolly reports from Washington.
The overall strategic picture is only slightly changed and it will fall to the next president to define the American missions in the two countries, our correspondent says.The overall strategic picture is only slightly changed and it will fall to the next president to define the American missions in the two countries, our correspondent says.
'Fragile and reversible''Fragile and reversible'
Mr Bush announced that a marine battalion of about 1,000 troops, scheduled to leave Iraq's Anbar province in November, would return home as planned without being replaced.Mr Bush announced that a marine battalion of about 1,000 troops, scheduled to leave Iraq's Anbar province in November, would return home as planned without being replaced.
Taleban's 20-year warEU ex-envoy attacks strategy Taleban's 20-year warEU ex-envoy attacks strategy
An army brigade of between 3,500 and 4,000 troops will leave in February, accompanied by about 3,400 support forces.An army brigade of between 3,500 and 4,000 troops will leave in February, accompanied by about 3,400 support forces.
"The progress in Iraq is still fragile and reversible..." Mr Bush said in his speech at the National Defense University."The progress in Iraq is still fragile and reversible..." Mr Bush said in his speech at the National Defense University.
The Iraqi government is currently negotiating a security agreement on the future of US forces in Iraq before a UN mandate expires.The Iraqi government is currently negotiating a security agreement on the future of US forces in Iraq before a UN mandate expires.
Harry Reid, leader of the Democrats in the US Senate, said he was "stunned" that President Bush had "decided to bring so few troops home from Iraq and send so few resources to Afghanistan".
The Democratic chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Ike Skelton, said Mr Bush had effectively deferred troop reductions to the next presidential administration.
"More significant troop reductions in Iraq are needed so that we can start to rebuild US military readiness and provide the additional forces needed to finish the fight in Afghanistan," he added.
Afghan challenge
In signalling increases in the strength of US forces in Afghanistan, Mr Bush said the country faced "some of the most hardened terrorists and extremists in the world".In signalling increases in the strength of US forces in Afghanistan, Mr Bush said the country faced "some of the most hardened terrorists and extremists in the world".
Aid agencies point to a 50% increase in insurgent attacks in Afghanistan
A marine battalion due to go to Iraq in November will be sent to Afghanistan, followed by an army combat brigade in January, Mr Bush said.A marine battalion due to go to Iraq in November will be sent to Afghanistan, followed by an army combat brigade in January, Mr Bush said.
Based on typical battalion and brigade strengths, this would total some 4,500 troops.Based on typical battalion and brigade strengths, this would total some 4,500 troops.
Aid agencies point to a 50% increase in insurgent attacks in Afghanistan
The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief said last month that violence in Afghanistan had reached its worst level since 2001, when US-led forces overthrew the Taleban, with more than 260 civilians killed in July alone.The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief said last month that violence in Afghanistan had reached its worst level since 2001, when US-led forces overthrew the Taleban, with more than 260 civilians killed in July alone.
Afghanistan's government said the bloodshed was connected to peace deals Pakistan's government had sought with Islamist militants in the north-western tribal areas along the border.Afghanistan's government said the bloodshed was connected to peace deals Pakistan's government had sought with Islamist militants in the north-western tribal areas along the border.
The European Union's former envoy to Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, has accused the Bush administration of "misleading itself" in its approach to the country.The European Union's former envoy to Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, has accused the Bush administration of "misleading itself" in its approach to the country.
Mr Vendrell told the BBC's HARDtalk programme that the West's strategy in Afghanistan was "incoherent".Mr Vendrell told the BBC's HARDtalk programme that the West's strategy in Afghanistan was "incoherent".