Bush To Start Pullout

President George W. Bush last night said the U.S. military's success in Iraq has made it possible to begin withdrawing some troops but noted that future withdrawals will be based on continued success and renewed his call on Iraqi leaders to take control of their country. "Because of the measure of success we are seeing in Iraq, we can begin seeing troops come home," said the conservative Republican presidenti, speaking from the Oval Office to a national television audience in prime time.

The president — in his 11th national address about Iraq — said 5,700 U.S. troops would return home by Christmas. He also said that five combat brigades, out of the 20 in Iraq, would be withdrawn by next summer, without saying exactly how many troops that would be. President Bush sought to cast the current moment in Iraq as a turning point in the war, and even in U.S. history, and exhorted critics not to give up.

"Some say the gains we are making in Iraq come too late," he said. "They are mistaken. It is never too late to deal a blow to al Qaeda. It is never too late to advance freedom. And it is never too late to support our troops in a fight they can win."

Democrats, however, were unmoved. "A nation eager for change in Iraq heard the president speak about his plans for the future. But once again, the president failed to provide either a plan to successfully end the war or a convincing rationale to continue it," said Sen. Jack Reed, Rhode Island Democrat and a former U.S. Army Ranger and paratrooper. "Democrats believe it is time to change course," Sen. Reed said. "We have put forth a plan to responsibly and rapidly begin a reduction of our troops in Iraq."