(10 Sep 2007) EM4559
HEADLINE: Patraeus: 30,000 U.S. troops to leave Iraq
CAPTION:The top U.S. commander in Iraq has outlined the withdrawal of 30,000 U.S. troops from Iraq by next summer. Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker told Congress there have been military successes in Iraq, but less political progress. (Sept. 10) 2007
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
[Notes:photogs swarming around petraeus and crocker]
It's one of the most highly-anticipated congressional hearings in recent memory.
General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker were greeted by a mob scene as they arrived to deliver their progress report on Iraq....
[Notes:nats of protestors]
And interrupted by protesters who accused the general of being a mouthpiece for the Bush administration.
Petraeus came armed with a litany of statistics to bolster him claim that the troop surge is working.
[Notes:graphic]
Petraeus says security incidents in Iraq have declined in eight of the past 12 weeks.
Civilian deaths across the country are down by more than 45 percent since December.
And in Baghdad, civilian deaths are down 70 percent.
[Notes:troop file]
Saying the surge of U-S troops has large met its military objectives, General Petraeus envisions removing those extra 30-thousand troops starting later this month.
SOT: 1:32 General Petraeus
I believe that we will be able to reduce our forces to the pre-surge level by next summer without jeopardizing the security gains we have fought so hard to achieve.''
[Notes:al-maliki video]
However, Petraeus acknowledged the Iraqi government has still not done enough.
[Notes:two shot of crocker and petraeus]
and both he and ambassador Crocker admitted success in Iraq won't be quick or easy:
SOT: Ambassador Crocker:
"I cannot guarantee success in Iraq, but I do believe it is attainable".
[Notes:ws of committee]
Democrats clearly disagreed, foreign relations committee chairman Tom Lantos saying that after 37-hundred deaths--a dramatic move is needed
SOT: 12:56 Congressman Tom Lantos, D-Calif.
'we need to get out of iraq for that country's sake and for our own--it is time to go and to go now.
standup close
While the pace of the troop withdrawal plan outlined by the general didn't sit well with democrats, he went on to say the drawdown should continue after those 30-thousand troops return home. The general's appearance coincided with new polls showing there is significant public opposition to the war. jb the ap capitol hill
STORYLINE

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