US moves troops from Iraq to Afghanistan

From a tour of duty in Iraq, to a tour of duty in Afghanistan… The US president has announced changes in American troop deployments in both countries.

George W. Bush says 8,000 soldiers will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of February, with many moving to Afghanistan.

“Iraqi forces are becoming increasingly capable of leading and winning the fight,” said Bush.
“As a result, we have been able to cary out a policy of ‘return on success’. And if progress in Iraq continues to hold, General Petreus and our military leaders believe additional reductions will be possible in the first half of 2009.”

He said 4,500 troops will be sent to Afghanistan.

“For all the good work we have done in that country, it is clear we must do even more. As we learnt in Iraq, the best way to restore the confidence of the people is to restore basic security, and that requires more troops.”

A first batch of soldiers will go to Afghanistan in November, and a second wave in January.