President George W. Bush gave his evaluation and policy for the war in Iraq during a 17-minute prime time address on Thursday evening from the Oval Office.

This is Mr Bush’s eighth speech televised since the US launched a war in the Middle East country in March, 2003.

The national speech is read at a time of continual division and controversy over the congressional testimony earlier this week by General David Petraeus and US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

The speech was based on General Petraeus’ recommendations. President Bush affirmed that the war in Iraq is an important link in the global anti-terrorism campaign aimed at ensuring the safety of American people and that success in Iraq is essential to US security.

President Bush agreed with General Petraeus’s proposal to reduce the strength of US forces to 5,700 trooops by December and, by next July, reduce the number of combat brigades from 20 to 15 - a decrease of roughly 30,000 troops.

President Bush ended his speech by asking Congress to pursue his plan in the Middle East and to approve necessary budgets for the success of the US military in Iraq.

Prior to Mr Bush’s speech, senators of the Democratic Party criticised General Petraeus’ proposal. Democratic Party’s spokesperson, Senator Jack Reed, said the party will “profoundly change our military involvement in Iraq” if elected to office.

Meanwhile, senator Hillary Clinton, the most likely candidate of the Democratic Party for the 2008 presidency election, affirmed in her open letter to President Bush that General Petraeus’ proposal for a gradual withdrawal was “simply too little too late.”