Iraq: Bush promises change in US tactics By Toby Harnden in Washington Last Updated: 12:39am BST 22/10/2006
A chastened President Bush was yesterday forced to promise changes to US tactics in Iraq as he convened crisis talks with senior generals.
George W Bush: The campaign to pacify Baghdad has 'not met our overall expectations'
In a radio address delivered as top officials gathered at the Camp David presidential retreat, he said he was prepared to order "every necessary change" to military tactics.
He also acknowledged, in a rare admission of failure, that a two-month campaign to pacify Baghdad has "not met our overall expectations".
His remarks came as up to 600 British troops remained on standby to re-occupy Amarah, where more than 30 people were killed during pitched battles between rival Shia militias on Friday.
After a week in which sectarian killers have run amok in towns and cities across Iraq, Mr Bush conceded that "attacks have grown significantly", and said that the "last few weeks have been rough for our troops in Iraq and for the Iraqi people".
advertisementHe insisted America's goal was unchanging, but added: "We will continue to be flexible, and make every necessary change to prevail in this struggle… what is changing are the tactics we use to achieve that goal."
Mr Bush held preliminary discussions with Gen John Abizaid, head of US Central Command, whose area covers the Middle East, on Friday, as US officials and Republican advisers indicated that a significant policy shift was being considered.
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