Washington - US President George W Bush said Thursday that the United States will still have a military role in Iraq after his term ends in January 2009. Bush announced in a nationally televised speech that he will reduce the size of the US presence in Iraq by more than 5,000 troops by the end of the year and to a pre-surge level of 130,00 by mid July.
He said that Iraqi leaders will still be dependent on the United States after he leaves office, even as he begins withdrawals of US forces, currently numbering more than 160,000.
"This vision for a reduced American presence also has the support of Iraqi leaders from all communities," Bush said from the Oval Office.
"At the same time, they understand that their success will require US political, economic and security engagement that extends beyond my presidency."
The presidential address came two days after his top military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, told Congress that the additional US troops ordered into Iraq by Bush earlier this year have made progress in quelling violence.
Petraeus announced his plan to have 30,000 soldiers out of Iraq by July but refused to say whether further cuts would be possible.
