Progress seen in Iraq, Bush says

WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- Conditions in Iraq are such that U.S. troops sent there will serve 12-month tours instead of 15 months, U.S. President George Bush said Thursday.

The reduced tour will "ease the burden" on the military as well as "make like easier" on military families, he said.

Bush said the level of violence has dropped but gains can be reversed quickly.

"General (David) Petraeus and Ambassador (Ryan) Crocker caution that the progress is still reversible but they report that there now appears to be a 'degree of durability' to the gains we have made," Bush said.

Violence is at its lowest level since the spring of 2004 "and we're now in our third consecutive month with reduced violence levels holding steady," Bush said.

He also reported all five U.S. Army combat brigades and the three U.S. Marine units that were part of the surge have been redeployed and that Petraeus would provide recommendations on future troop levels "as conditions permit."

"As security in Iraq has improved, the Iraqi government has made political progress as well," Bush said, noting that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has had diplomatic discussions with several world leaders.

Progress also is being made a strategic framework agreement concerning U.S. troop presence in Iraq once the U.N. resolution authorizing multinational forces there expires Dec. 31, Bush said.