Bush: We cannot stop Iraq violence

guardian: George Bush, newly returned from Baghdad, gave a defiantly upbeat assessment of the situation in Iraq today but also warned that US troops would never be able to completely quell violence in the country.

In another apparent hint at the withdrawal of a considerable number of US forces, Mr Bush told a press conference at the White House that curbing violence was not the only gauge of success in Iraq.

"If people say there's got to be no violence in order for this to be a successful experience then it's not going to happen," the president said in response to a question about when troops might be pulled out.

"All that does is give the power to a handful of murderers to determine success," he said. "Obviously we'd like the violence to go down and that is what the operation in the Baghdad is intending to do."

There were "other measures to determine success" such as the recent formation of an elected Iraqi government under prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and improvements to the economy and infrastructure.

But he insisted foreign troops would not leave immediately, saying: "The message to the enemy is: don't count on us leaving before we succeed."

The president added: "Our policy is stand up, stand down; as the Iraqi forces stand up, we'll stand down. But if we stand down too soon we won't be able to achieve our objectives." Read more

db: Without doubt, when [the majority] of US troops pull out of Iraq it will be on the basis of 'mission accomplished'. As that moment approaches a clear and achievable definition of the 'mission' becomes desirable. Leaving behind a reasonable level of security is apparently not going to be part of the deal. Maybe fresh drinking water for all? - I doubt it. Electricity at the-flick-of-a-switch? - probably not. Decrease in the rate of child mortality? Now that's achievable - just leave.