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Petraeus Sees No New Troop Buildup in Iraq

General wraps up two days of testimony before Congress

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 9, 2008 8:44 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Gen. David H. Petraeus told the House Armed Forces Committee today that he does not foresee another buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, calling the possibility of a new surge "a pretty remote thought in my mind." If violences escalates again, the Army will make do with American and Iraqi troops already there, the Washington Post reports. His testimony comes a day before President Bush will lay out his troop strategy.

Petraeus—in his second day of congressional testimony—pushed again for a pause in troop reduction after the military completes a drawdown in mid-July. That would leave roughly 140,000 troops in Iraq. Petraeus was hard-pressed to account for a Congressional Budget Office report that says the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars could top $2 trillion by 2018, and for the Pentagon's unrealistically low projected 2009 budget.

Gen. David Petraeus told Congress today that there will be no new buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, even if violence escalates, but had little to offer in response to budgetary concerns.
Gen. David Petraeus told Congress today that there will be no new buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, even if violence escalates, but had little to offer in response to budgetary concerns.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Gen. David Petraeus told Congress today that there will be no new buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, even if violence escalates, but had little to offer in response to budgetary concerns.
Gen. David Petraeus told Congress today that there will be no new buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, even if violence escalates, but had little to offer in response to budgetary concerns.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Gen. David Petraeus told Congress today that there will be no new buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, even if violence escalates, but had little to offer in response to budgetary concerns.
Gen. David Petraeus told Congress today that there will be no new buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, even if violence escalates, but had little to offer in response to budgetary concerns.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., questions Gen David Petraeus on Capitol Hill in Washington, during the committee's hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., questions Gen David Petraeus on Capitol Hill in Washington, during the committee's hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Another day of testimony and skepticism
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New York Review of Books

Petraeus calls for mid-July pause in troop drawback
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Petraeus says troop reductions are under review
Los Angeles Times

US

 
Iraq • troop surge • David Petraeus • US troops • troop withdrawal • House Armed Services Committee • troop levels • Iraq war • Iraq war spending • war cost • troop drawdown

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