NY Times looks for and finds the least positive spin possible...

Slow Progress Being Made in Iraq, Petraeus Tells Congress
Doug Mills/The New York Times

By DAVID STOUT
Published: September 10, 2007

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 — Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American military commander in Iraq, told Congress this afternoon that the United States by next summer should be able to reduce its troop strength there to about 130,000, or what it was before the recent increase.

Returning to the “pre-surge” strength by pulling out 30,000 troops could probably be done without jeopardizing the hard-won progress made in Iraq, General Petraeus told House members at an emotionally charged hearing that was in some ways reminiscent of the Vietnam era. He said no decision on further withdrawals should be made until next March.

The gradual pullback of American troops should begin this month with the withdrawal of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., General Petraeus said. He said he had recommended that move to President Bush.

The general, whose testimony today was the most eagerly awaited appearance in decades by a military leader on Capitol Hill, said he envisioned the United States achieving “success” in Iraq, “although doing so will be neither quick nor easy.”

That must have been tough for the Times to print "success" and "Iraq" in the same sentence.

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