Bush to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Iraq by December

In a televised address on Thursday evening, President George W. Bush plans to announce his plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Iraq by December. He has also accepted the recommendations on force numbers by the top US commander and diplomat in Iraq.

President Bush is also expected to endorse a proposal to reduce US forces down from the 20 current brigades to just 15. However, no time frame is expected to be given.

The President's decision comes in the face of growing opposition to his strategy in Iraq, and after two days of congressional testimony by his top officials in Baghdad.

Following on the advice given by General David Petraeus and his recommendation to gradually with draw 30,000 of the 169,000 troops in Iraq, Bush's plan to reduce the troops would bring the levels back down to pre "surge" levels.