"The military objectives" of the 30,000 extra troops, who arrived between February and June, "are largely being met," Patraeus said.
His words were backed up in Baghdad, where Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told parliament Monday, September 10, that violence levels in the Iraqi capital and the western province of al-Anbar "dropped 75 percent" since the US-led troop surge began.
The general’s testimony before Congress was seen as welcome news for President George W. Bush, who has faced pressure over his policy in Iraq, with a record 168,000 American forces now staying there.
CLERGY COUNCIL
Monday’s hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington DC was also attended by officials of the influential National Clergy Council (NCC), representing church leaders from Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox and Protestant traditions, who recently visited Iraq.
They brought with them thousands of petitions addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid warning them that "early withdrawal of US troops will result in the slaughter of more than 2,000 Christians left in Iraq."
Although it was not immediately clear where the "2,000" figure came from, several sources have confirmed that most of Iraq’s 750,000 Christians have fled the country.
In a statement obtained by BosNewsLife, the NCC said it based its warning on findings by a high level religious delegation that recently visited Baghdad, including NCC executive member Reverend Patrick J. Mahoney.
CHRISTIANS CONCERNED
"Iraqi Christians told Rev. Mahoney they have no doubt that once US troops withdraw, Christians will be immediately exterminated," said NCC President, Reverend Rob Schenck. "If our troops are forced to withdraw early, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid will have the blood of martyrs on their hands."
Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki seemed to share those concerns Monday, September 10, saying
that although security improved across the country, Iraqi forces would need more time to take over "full security responsibility" from US-led forces.
As he spoke, a suicide car bomber killed at least eight people while injuring about 20 others near the northern city of Mosul, officials and reports said. The latest violence was likely to add to anxiety among Christian refugees in the area, who fled violence elsewhere.
US military officials also said an American soldier died from injuries sustained from rocket fire Sunday, September 9, in Kirkuk province, the Voice Of America (VOA) network reported.
"POLITICAL GAIN"
The NCC’s Schenck suggested that developments in Iraq underscore the need to "plead with our Congressional leaders not to put political gain ahead of protection for the precious Christians of Iraq," who he believes are especially suffering in sectarian violence.
Democratic Party officials and some Republicans have been accused by critics of opposing Bush’s policies only because of election fever at a time when opinion polls show the president is unpopular.
Following Monday’s hearing on Capital Hill, Reverend Schenck was to participate in a prayer vigil for Iraqi Christians later Monday, September 10, organized by the conservative Christian Defense Coalition, near the White House. (With BosNewsLife Research and reprorting from Iraq and the United States).
