President Bush is declining to promise that more U.S. troops will return home from Iraq before he leaves office in 11 months, AP reported. Putting aside «enormous speculation,» he says decisions about troop cuts beyond those planned through July would be based on generals' recommendations for success in Iraq. But he strongly suggests Iraq's provincial elections in October may mean more troops cannot return before the voting. Bush said at a news conference at his ranch Saturday that generals «ought to be concerned about making sure there's enough of a presence so that the provincial elections can be carried out in such a way that democracy advances.» He says that should be a factor in what they recommend to him this summer or early fall.
