Former US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld proposed major changes to the Bush administration's strategy in Iraq just two days before he resigned.
He made the call in a classified memo to the White House, which has been obtained by the New York Times.
Mr Rumsfeld's memo says US strategy in Iraq "is not working well enough" and calls for "a major adjustment".
President Bush faces growing pressure to decide a new Iraq course with an advisory group due to report this week.
"In my view it is time for a major adjustment," Mr Rumsfeld wrote in the memo dated 6 November.
"Clearly, what US forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough."
Apart from President Bush, the combative Mr Rumsfeld was identified more than anyone else with the US administration's strategy of "staying the course" in Iraq.
Provide money to key political leaders (as Saddam Hussein did), to get them to help us get through this difficult period
Rumsfeld memo
So it seems extraordinary that behind the scenes he was calling for major changes, the BBC's James Westhead in Washington says.
However, in recent months he had begun to acknowledge publicly that US tactics were not working and needed to be more flexible, our correspondent notes.
Bad behaviour
The document, first published by the New York Times and subsequently confirmed by the Pentagon, contains no reference to Mr Rumsfeld's imminent resignation.
Mr Rumsfeld was replaced following Republican losses to the Democrats in the US mid-term elections.
His proposals in the memo include troop redeployments and base closures, in apparent contradiction with his public assertions that it is commanders in the field who determine troop levels.
The memo also suggests "beginning with modest withdrawals of US and coalition forces... so Iraqis know they have to pull up their socks, step up and take responsibility for their country".
The US should "stop rewarding bad behaviour", the memo says. Reconstruction efforts should be in those parts of Iraq that are behaving and no more reconstruction assistance should be given in areas where there is violence.
Mr Rumsfeld also urges President Bush to copy the tactics of Iraq's deposed leader: "Provide money to key political leaders (as Saddam Hussein did), to get them to help us get through this difficult period."
Among other options described as "Above the Line" are:
Significantly increase the number of US trainers and transfer more equipment to Iraqi security forces
Reduce quickly the number of US bases, currently 55, to five by July 2007
Position substantial US forces near the Iranian and Syrian borders to reduce infiltration and Iran's influence
Withdraw US forces from vulnerable positions, such as patrols, and use them as a quick reaction force to help Iraqi security forces when needed
Any new approach should be announced as being on a "trial basis", giving the administration the ability to change if necessary and therefore not "lose", the memo says.
Withdrawal date
Mr Rumsfeld also outlined a number of "Below the Line" or less attractive options, including continuing on the current path, moving large numbers of US forces into Baghdad and increasing US forces substantially.
Other proposals include setting a firm withdrawal date and pushing an "aggressive" federalism plan to move towards three separate states - Sunni, Shia and Kurd.
News of Mr Rumsfeld's proposals comes as the Iraq Study Group, which brings together senior politicians and diplomats, is preparing to present its findings to Mr Bush.
Their recommendations are widely expected to include a gradual phased withdrawal of US troops over the next 18 months.
Mr Bush has indicated he will look closely at but not necessarily follow the group's suggestions.
"I want to hear all advice before I make any decision about adjustments to our strategy in Iraq," Mr Bush said in his radio address on Saturday.
Story from BBC NEWS
Chile's Pinochet has heart attack
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Ailing Castro misses Cuban parade
The Cuban capital, Havana, is staging a military parade in honour of Fidel Castro but the ailing leader was not present at the start of events.
The parade, on a key date in the Cuban revolution, is part of delayed 80th birthday celebrations for Mr Castro.
President Castro underwent emergency intestinal surgery at the end of July and has not been seen in public since.
He could still appear as the parade continues, but his apparent absence is fuelling more doubts about his health.
Events are being led by the acting president, Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother and the island's defence minister.
The parade began with Raul Castro riding on a jeep through Havana's main square after a 21-gun salute before he launched into a speech praising the Cuban revolution and attacking the United States.
"Long live Fidel! Long live a free Cuba!," he concluded in front of a crowd of thousands of Cubans.
It had been thought that President Castro might take the opportunity to make his first public appearance in four months on such a significant date.
Exactly 50 years ago to the day, Mr Castro made another comeback, returning to Cuba from exile in Mexico to launch a guerrilla war aided by Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
Three years later, their 9,000-strong force overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista.
Soviet-era tanks and missile launchers are on show in Havana's Revolution Square.
Soldiers have been marching past and at one point a replica of the Granma, the yacht that carried Fidel Castro back from exile, was pulled along the street.
Socialist future
Senior Cuban government figures say that speculation about the Cuban leader's health is ill-informed and spread by his enemies.
At a gala on Friday attended by several Latin American leaders, Cuban Vice-President Carlos Lage said Mr Castro's health was improving and that the country would remain socialist long into the future.
"When Fidel is no longer with us, his work his ideas and his example will be," Mr Lage said, adding: "Fidel is recovering. We will have him among us, he will keep leading and we will ask him to keep doing so for some years more."
If there is no appearance at all by President Castro, it will be a sign that it is unlikely he will be back holding the reins of power, correspondents say - a development that would be life-altering news for Cubans, most of whom know no other leader.
Birthday celebrations were initially scheduled when the Cuban leader turned 80 in August, but were moved to December after he became ill.
His last appearance on Cuban television, looking frail and wearing pyjamas rather than his trademark military fatigues, was more than a month ago.
Story from BBC NEWS
other news:
The parade, on a key date in the Cuban revolution, is part of delayed 80th birthday celebrations for Mr Castro.
President Castro underwent emergency intestinal surgery at the end of July and has not been seen in public since.
He could still appear as the parade continues, but his apparent absence is fuelling more doubts about his health.
Events are being led by the acting president, Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother and the island's defence minister.
The parade began with Raul Castro riding on a jeep through Havana's main square after a 21-gun salute before he launched into a speech praising the Cuban revolution and attacking the United States.
"Long live Fidel! Long live a free Cuba!," he concluded in front of a crowd of thousands of Cubans.
It had been thought that President Castro might take the opportunity to make his first public appearance in four months on such a significant date.
Exactly 50 years ago to the day, Mr Castro made another comeback, returning to Cuba from exile in Mexico to launch a guerrilla war aided by Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
Three years later, their 9,000-strong force overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista.
Soviet-era tanks and missile launchers are on show in Havana's Revolution Square.
Soldiers have been marching past and at one point a replica of the Granma, the yacht that carried Fidel Castro back from exile, was pulled along the street.
Socialist future
Senior Cuban government figures say that speculation about the Cuban leader's health is ill-informed and spread by his enemies.
At a gala on Friday attended by several Latin American leaders, Cuban Vice-President Carlos Lage said Mr Castro's health was improving and that the country would remain socialist long into the future.
"When Fidel is no longer with us, his work his ideas and his example will be," Mr Lage said, adding: "Fidel is recovering. We will have him among us, he will keep leading and we will ask him to keep doing so for some years more."
If there is no appearance at all by President Castro, it will be a sign that it is unlikely he will be back holding the reins of power, correspondents say - a development that would be life-altering news for Cubans, most of whom know no other leader.
Birthday celebrations were initially scheduled when the Cuban leader turned 80 in August, but were moved to December after he became ill.
His last appearance on Cuban television, looking frail and wearing pyjamas rather than his trademark military fatigues, was more than a month ago.
Story from BBC NEWS
other news:
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