Iraqi government welcomes plan

Baghdad: The Iraqi government has welcomed US President George W Bush's new Iraq strategy, but many ordinary citizens were left with mixed feelings at the plan to send an extra 21,500 troops.

Sadiq Al Rikabi, an advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said failure in Iraq would affect the whole world, not just the Middle East and Iraq.

He said: “The current situation is not acceptable - not only for the American people but also for the Iraqis and their government.

"As Iraqis and as an elected government we welcome the American commitment for success. The Iraqi government also is committed to succeed.''

However, a Sunni lawmaker rejected Bush's plan and instead called for the US to set a timetable to withdraw from Iraq.

Hussein Al Falluji, said: “Bush's plan could be the last attempt to fix the chaos created after the invasion of Iraq. Yet, sending more troops will not end the problem, on the contrary, there will be more bloodshed.''

On the streets of Baghdad, Bush's address – which was broadcast live on Iraqi television – drew a mostly negative reaction.

Osama Ahmed, a 50-year-old Sunni who works in the Ministry of Higher Education, said: “More U.S. troops will mean more wasted blood and more people killed. The violence will surge unless U.S. administration decides to curb militiamen who are part of the Iraqi government.''

He also accused the Shiite-dominated government of backing the militias in attacking Sunnis, saying “there is no point of giving more security responsibilities to the Iraqi government because it is a sectarian government.''

Abdel Karim Jassim, a 44-year-old Shiite trader, said he had hoped Bush would come up with something other than the troops increase.

“Sending more troops will not solve the problem,'' he said before admitting that sectarian issues made it difficult for the Iraqis to solve the problem themselves.

But Rahim Al Waeli, a Shiite, said he was hopeful this plan would succeed where others had failed because it included efforts to boost economic aid and job creation.