US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and the top commander General David Petraeus presented their report on the progress made in Iraq to the US Congress, but their analysis sparked discontent among some Iraqi officials.

Petraeus and Crocker considered that some of the US troops can return home by next summer. The general said the number of soldiers should be reduced to 130,000, like it was before President George W Bush ordered a surge of almost 30,000 troops in February.

Iraq’s National Security Advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie welcomed the report, saying it objectively assessed the situation in Iraq. Al-Rubaie said the “transparent” report outlined the “historical progress” made by Iraq’s government in its drive to reinstate democracy in the war-torn country.

Even so, he believes that the Iraqi administration and security forces “remain in need of the support of the US-coalition forces.” Al-Rubaie said seven provinces are currently under the control of local forces after the US and British forces considered the Iraqi troops are capable of taking over security.

A government spokesman said the assessment “depicted a clear picture of the political and security (goals) Iraq had accomplished in the past months.”

“The development in the security situation in the preceding months was clear, despite the crises in the political arena requiring reform and intensive efforts,” Ali al-Dabagh said.

“The withdrawal of the US-led coalition is based on the success of the government in building up its military force,” he added.
Similar stances were adopted by other prominent politicians, including members of the Sunni and Kurdish community.

“The report tackled the success of the US forces in striking al-Qaeda and reducing violence in Baghdad,” an member of the Kurdistan Alliance said.

However, many politicians criticized the report for not reflecting the truth and “drawing a rosy picture of the Iraqi reality.”

A prominent member of the Shiite Sadrist bloc said the report doesn’t include anything new. The solutions for combating al-Qaeda in Iraq proposed by Ambassador Crocker “came late,” because the Iraqi administration is responsible for the plans aimed at combating the terrorist organization.

The report filed by Petraeus and Crocker is regarded as being a crucial point of the US campaign in Iraq, President Bush urging Americans to be patient with his strategy that would surely bring a success.

During his testimony, General Petraeus said al-Qaeda received “significant blows” from the US and Iraqi forces, the result being seen in the drop registered by the number of attacks against security troops.

“Though al-Qaeda and its affiliates remain dangerous, we have taken away a number of their sanctuaries and gained the initiative in many areas,” Petraeus said.

Petraeus underlined the progress made by security forces in several provinces, where they managed to collaborate with local leaders in combating insurgency. He gave the example of Anbar province, where Sunni leaders agreed to join forces with US troops in fighting al-Qaeda.

He also said that fewer civilians were killed or kidnapped in the past eight months and violence was quelled in several provinces, citing the progress made in the Salah ad Din province.

Crocker admitted some issues are left hanging and that is mostly because the legislative process is sluggish.

“The American people are frustrated. I am frustrated every day I spend in Iraq on the lack of progress on legislative initiatives. Iraqis themselves are frustrated,” the diplomat said.