Reid: Bush doesn't address war decisions

WASHINGTON, April 10 (UPI) -- Democratic leaders Thursday accused U.S. President George Bush of leaving decisions about ending the war in Iraq for his successor.

"He's leaving all the tough decisions ... to the next president of the United States," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said, reacting to Bush's speech about troop levels and length of deployment in Iraq.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., agreed, noting if Bush's economic policy remains as is, "he will be leaving a failed war policy and a failed economic policy at the doorstep of the next president."

Pelosi said she asked Bush in a letter what conditions would trigger troop withdrawals and asked about the general military readiness.

"We need answers from the commander in chief," she said, flanked by war veterans.

U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Army Gen. David Petraeus assessed progress in Iraq for Congress. Petraeus recommended and Bush endorsed suspending troop withdrawals after the current drawdown ends in July.

Bush also said he directed that troop deployment drop from 15 months to 12 months, effective Aug. 1.

Regarding the lower deployment time, "I call upon (Bush) to allow us to codify this, make it the law of this country," Reid said.