Bush to keep his troops in Iraq for six more months

He may allow a symbolic number of U.S. soldiers home for Christmas but is determined to give his surge strategy six more months to work.

It is the first time a likely timetable for U.S withdrawal has emerged.

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It was disclosed yesterday by General David Petraeus, America's commander in Iraq, who suggested he will recommend a significant reduction in troop numbers around March when he presents his much-awaited progress report on the war on Capitol Hill next Monday.

The postponement of a pull-out is certain to cause uproar among the ruling Democrats in Congress, who are pushing for an immediate end to the commitment.

It could lead to a mutiny among Republicans, who were pinning their hopes on the White House softening its stance on the war this month following General Petraeus's report.

Many senior Republicans fear that pressing on with the unpopular conflict - widely seen as the reason for their crushing election defeat last November - will result in another disastrous result in next year's presidential poll.

"If the troops finally start drawing down in March or April, that leaves the presidential election just six months away.

And that will not give the Republicans enough time to save themselves from defeat unless there is some kind of miracle turn-around in Iraq," said a Washington analyst.

Republican Senator Norm Coleman said pulling out a small number of troops by the end of the year would at least show there was a limit to American aid.

"I think the message has to be sent," he said.

The President's newfound confidence is based largely on General Petraeus's upbeat assessment from the war zone.

He is counting on the general convincing politicians that a withdrawal should begin only after troops are given the chance to build on ' substantial' security gains.

"The surge will run its course, there are limits to what our military can provide," conceded General Petraeus yesterday.

When asked if the withdrawal to prevent further strain on the military would start in March, he added: "Your calculations are right."

But he was adamant strides have been made this summer.

"Eight of the past 11 weeks have seen the number of attacks come down, and to the point that they reached a level that's about the lowest in well over a year," he told ABC News.

President Bush sent a similar message from Sydney following a meeting yesterday with Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Insisting he's not interested in "artificial timetables", he said it was important to "hang in there".

He said his commanders had told him "that if security conditions still improve the way they have been improving, we may be able to provide the same security with fewer troops."

The Australian premier, one of Mr Bush's staunchest allies, is also facing an election by the end of the year and is lagging behind in the polls to opponent Kevin Rudd, who has vowed to withdraw the country's 1,500 troops from Iraq.

Back in the U.S. yesterday, the Democratic presidential hopefuls tried to capitalise on the issue.

"It's time to begin to bring our troops home so we can relieve a strain on our military that endangers our national security," said leading candidates Barack Obama.

"It's time to end a war that should have never been authorised."