US:US president George W Bush yesterday defended his plan for limited US troop cuts in Iraq and denounced Democrats for not taking a stronger stand against an anti-war group's attack on the credibility of his top Iraq commander.
Mr Bush was speaking at his first news conference since delivering a televised address backing Gen David Petraeus's proposal to withdraw about 20,000 troops by July. But he defied calls for a dramatic change of course in Iraq.
"Progress will yield fewer troops [in Iraq]," Mr Bush said. "In other words, return on success is what I said." As he continued fending off pressure for a US exit from the unpopular war, he took aim at his Democratic critics over a newspaper ad that excoriated Gen Petraeus over his closely watched testimony before Congress last week.
The liberal anti-war group MoveOn.org drew widespread criticism from Republicans for its ad in the New York Times that mocked Gen Petraeus as "General Betray Us" for stating a troop build-up was making progress.
"I thought the ad was disgusting," said Mr Bush, who has relied on the general's aura of credibility in Congress to help sell his strategy.
"I felt like the ad was an attack not only on Gen Petraeus but on the US military, and I was disappointed that not more leaders in the Democrat party spoke out strongly against that ad."
The US senate later voted 72:25 to repudiate the ad. Twenty-two Democrats joined 49 Republicans and one independent in denouncing it.