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Bush reshuffles war zone troops Bush reshuffles war zone troops
(20 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 ordered a modest troop reshuffle, bringing some 8,000 troops back from Iraq and sending 4,500 extra troops to Afghanistan.
He argued in a speech that reduced levels of violence in Iraq allowed for a "quiet surge" of troops in Afghanistan in the coming months. 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.
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.Mr Bush was immediately accused by US Democrats of not moving fast enough to redeploy forces from Iraq.
Any long-term decision about their deployment will be left to Mr Bush's successor, who takes office in January. This 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 BBC's Jonathan Beale says the continued decline in violence in Iraq since last year's US troop "surge" has given President Bush a chance to ease the growing strain on his country's military. 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.
'Degree of durability' 'Fragile and reversible'
Acting on the advice of his generals, Mr Bush announced that a marine battalion of about 1,000 troops, which is scheduled to leave Iraq's Anbar province in November, will 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.
"While the progress in Iraq is still fragile and reversible, Gen [David] Petraeus and Ambassador [Ryan] Crocker report that there now appears to be a 'degree of durability' to the gains we have made," 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.
"And if the progress in Iraq continues to hold, Gen Petraeus and our military leaders believe additional reductions will be possible in the first half of 2009."
Our correspondent says the withdrawals announced on Tuesday will mark the start of a slow and limited draw-down based on what Mr Bush calls "return on success". However, it will still leave the bulk of US forces behind in Iraq.
Last month, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said that although a timetable for the withdrawal of the remaining troops did not exist, he had tentatively agreed with the US military to end the presence of foreign combat troops by 2011.
[Afghanistan's] enemies are some of the most hardened terrorists and extremists in the world George W BushUS president
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".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.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."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 challengeAfghan 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 AfghanistanAid 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.
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".