Bush Says He’ll Reassess U.S. Troop Needs in Iraq

President Bush said Tuesday that he would make a fresh assessment about Iraq’s needs for U.S. military help now that it had a new government.

Bush also said Americans should not judge what’s happening in Iraq solely on the basis of violence. “It is a difficult task to stop suicide bombers,” he said at a news conference.

The president said progress was being made as Iraqis were learning to handle their own security force and the new government began its work.

Iraq’s government will assess the nation’s security needs and work with U.S. commanders, Bush said, adding that “we’re now able to take a new assessment about the needs necessary for the Iraqis.”

Bush’s comments came hours after the White House had played down prospects of major troop withdrawals.

“The conditions on the ground tell us that our job’s not done,” Press Secretary Tony Snow said.

At the Pentagon, Brig. Gen. Carter Ham said he was unaware of any numerical target for cuts this year, and he cautioned against expecting major reductions before Iraqis showed they could handle the insurgents.