Feature: Iraqis hold mixed reviews to Bush's new Iraq policy

Iraqis expressed mixed reviews towards a new Iraq strategy declared by U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday, as some said it is only a pipe dream while others believe it is an encouraging strategy to get rid of chaos.

Jasim Adel, a Baghdad resident in his 20s, was disappointed with Bush's plan, wondering, "What's new in his speech? Bush is going ahead with his old policy only adding ... some troops and small changes."

"We need a major change in the political process and significant changes in the corrupted people who rule the country," he told Xinhua.

Umar Abdul Hameed, a Sunni Arab resident in the hot spot area of Ghazaliya neighborhood in western Baghdad, was also pessimistic as Bush's strategy "does not touch the bone of contention in Iraq. "

Bush announced on Wednesday night in a prime-time televised speech that he has ordered more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq, as part of his new Iraq strategy.

"Again, President Bush bet on the weak government, which has promised us a lot but nothing has changed," Ahmed Ali, a 45-year- old engineer, told Xinhua.

"They (Iraqi government) can not control six square meter," Ali said, wondering, "how can they control a country like Iraq", referring to the failure of the government in controlling the small room in which Saddam Hussein was hanged and was taunted by some Shiite witnesses.

Meanwhile, Abdul Salam Ahmed, a professor from Baghdad University living in a residential building near Haifa Street, labelled the alleged new strategy as a "mistaken policy."

The area was the scene of fierce clashes occurred a few days ago between Iraqi soldiers backed by U.S. troops and gunmen, in which 50 gunmen were reportedly killed.

"I don't hope anything from any strategies after Shiite family occupied my apartment near Haifa Street," Ahmed said, insisting that the strategy "is only a continued mistaken policy and will only support the sectarian Iraqi security forces who considered us (Sunnis) as insurgents."

However, some Iraqis welcomed Bush's decision to increase U.S. troops, believing that it was necessary to get rid of chaos in the war-torn country.

Nasir Mahmoud, 39, who identify himself as neither a Sunni nor a Shiite, welcomed Bush's plan, saying that "I fell more comfortable when I see the U.S. troops as they are not sectarian troops anyway."

In addition to backers and objectors, there are some Iraqis who are not at all keen to hear Bush's strategy, as they believe that the problem is among Iraqis who have different visions for their country's interests.

"I don't care whether the strategy is workable or not. It is our own problem. If the Iraqi religious and political groups do not come together, no strategy can work," said Abu Haider, a Shiite retired teacher in his 70s.

Bush attributed failure of past U.S. efforts to secure Baghdad to two main reasons: not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods cleared of terrorists and insurgents, and too many restrictions on U.S. troops deployed in the war-torn country.

To help the Iraqis put down sectarian violence and bring security to Baghdad, the United States would change its strategy and increasing American force levels in the country, Bush said in his speech on Wednesday night.

Source: Xinhua