Bush leaves Iraqi war to successor

President George W. Bush's pledge to bring some troops back from Iraq may buy time, but his strategy is little changed and he left the task of ending the war to the next president, US newspaper editorials said yesterday.

Mr Bush told Americans in a televised address Thursday evening that US forces could be cut by about 20,000 by July and he linked the reduction to what he said was progress on the ground, especially in volatile Anbar province and in Baghdad.

The administration's so-called "surge" over the past eight months involved deployment of about 21,500 combat troops.

The Washington Post said Mr Bush's strategy of a gradual withdrawal was "the least bad plan" since a more hasty troop draw down would result in massive civilian casualties.