U.S. tries to temper expectations on Iraq progress
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A September progress report on the U.S. troop increase in Iraq that President George W. Bush called an important moment for his war strategy is unlikely to be a "pivotal" assessment, officials now say.
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President Bush says that Iraq has had some success in meeting 18 U.S.-mandated benchmarks. But on the ground in Baghdad, the oil debate suggests that artificial milestones could make things worse.
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The top U.S. commander in Iraq told Congress today that the military objectives of the Bush administration's troop increase strategy in Iraq "are in large measure being met," and he forecast a reduction of U.S. forces "to pre-surge levels" without jeopardizing gains in the months ahead.
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U.S. commanders in Iraq want to freeze troop levels when they reach 130,000 later this year.
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Defense and military officials have been asked to prepare projections so that President Bush can balance troop requests for Iraq against other needs.
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Elections in January throughout Iraq are an achievable goal, the State Department said Monday, but it refused to predict the goal would be reached.
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Defense Secretary Robert Gates was cautious in his assessment of progress in the war as he prepared to meet Saturday with top U.S. military and civilian officials and the country's prime minister.
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U.S. President George W. Bush said on Thursday he would wait until after he receives a full Iraq progress report in September before making any decisions on the course of U.S. strategy in the war.
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Analysis: There's less difference than it may seem in how Republicans and Democrats want to manage Iraq
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President Bush knows the general direction he wants to move U.S. policy on Iraq but won't announce it until next month, the White House said Tuesday. Military commanders were recommending more U.S. advisers and equipment for Iraqi forces, said a defense specialist.
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Differences have emerged between the U.S. and British views of how to operate in southern Iraq, with U.S. officials encouraging the British to be more aggressive for as long as they keep troops there, said an American official closely familiar with Iraq policy.
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The Iraqi government has made mixed progress in meeting political and security goals, a U.S. official said on Thursday citing a report that may add to rising calls for a change of course in the unpopular war.
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Iraq has made good strides improving security while political progress is picking up ahead of key reports to be delivered to the U.S. Congress in the next two weeks, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Thursday.
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U.S.-funded reconstruction in Iraq  is gaining pace in some areas, albeit on a smaller scale than  hoped, despite mounting attacks and intimidation by insurgents,  said a senior U.S. official on Wednesday.
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The defense secretary also cautioned that any final decision hinged on the progress of Iraq's new government.
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BAGHDAD -- When US and Iranian officials meet here today in search of ways to bring stability to Iraq, both sides will have much to ask for, much they could offer -- and only limited expectations for quick progress.
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Foreign minister to remind the US of its responsibility to help build Iraqi forces.