The highest U.S. general in Iraq outlined plans Monday for the withdrawal of 30,000 troops by next summer, drawing praise from the White House but a chilly reception from anti-war Democrats.

I believe that the Whitehouse is playing politics in this matter again though I am convinced that it is not necessary to withdraw troops now. Again it would be a disaster if the US will leave Irag in the middle of the war.

Gen. David Petraeus said a 2,000-member Marine unit would return home this month without replacement in the first sizable cut since a 2003 U.S-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein and unleashed sectarian violence.

Further “force reductions will continue,” he told a nationally televised congressional hearing that was frequently interrupted by anti-war protesters.

Petraeus said it would be “premature to make recommendations on the pace,” and he recommended that President Bush wait until March 2008 to make any decisions.