WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- White House communications director Dan Bartlett was sent out Monday to counter a story the Bush administration is making a major change in its Iraq strategy.
The New York Times reported Sunday that the administration has set a timetable for an Iraqi takeover of the country's security. Bartlett said that there have always been "benchmarks."
He told CNN that the Iraqis "want to have this benchmark and milestone process as much as we do. They want to take over control as quickly as possible."
At least 86 U.S. soldiers have been killed so far in October, making it the deadliest month for the military this year. Hundreds of Iraqis have died in sectarian attacks.
Military commanders and the Bush administration say that an upsurge in violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was predictable.
"Iraqi security forces are over 300,000," Bartlett told the Armed Forces Press Service. "The Iraqi military is doing a tremendous job. It's uneven in some places, for sure, but you've all seen the stories of the Iraqis being on point and taking the fight (to the enemy). They are not staying in their barracks. They are fighting the enemy, and they are dying."
