Petraeus Outlines Troop Withdrawal Plans

Gen. David Petraeus, seated, left, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, seated, right, are surrounded by photographers as they wait to testify before the House Armed Services Committee, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Gerald Herbert - AP)

Petraeus conceded that improvements in security in Iraq were uneven across the country.

Using 13 pages of colorful charts, he said, "The level of security incidents has declined in eight of the past 12 weeks, with the level of incidents in the past two weeks the lowest since June of 2006."

Ticking off some of the gains, he said, "We have disrupted Shia militia extremists, capturing the head and numerous other leaders of the Iranian-supported Special Groups, along with a senior Lebanese Hezbollah operative supporting Iran's activities in Iraq."

U.S. and Iraqi forces had dealt "significant blows to al-Qaida-Iraq," he said, although he conceded that the terrorist organization remains dangerous.

Despite Petraeus' generally optimistic report, the extent of any improvement has been a matter of debate.

The Government Accountability Office, a congressional agency, recently reported that Iraq has partially achieved only four of 18 political and military goals.

Additionally, a formal National Intelligence Estimate by the administration this summer said the Iraqi government is strained by rampant violence and deep sectarian differences.

Bush and his political allies have worked forcefully in recent weeks to shore up Republican support. The effort has included television advertisements and a presidential visit to Anbar province to highlight improved security in the vast western stretches of Iraq.

Bush also called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the hours before Petraeus spoke.

Despite the administration's efforts, fresh polls reflected significant public opposition to the war.

An AP-Ipsos survey found that only 36 percent of those questioned believe the troop increase has helped stabilize Iraq. That was up only marginally from 32 percent in February, as the buildup was beginning.

Even before the hearing began, anti-war protesters asserted themselves.

MoveOn.org targeted Petraeus in a newspaper advertisement, accusing him of "cooking the books" for the White House. "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?" it asked, a wordplay on his name.

Nearly two dozen senators, all Republicans except for Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, called on Democrats to denounce the advertisement.

None did, although none stepped forward to defend it, y police.

"This is intolerable," said Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., who chaired the hearing and was forced repeatedly to order police to maintain order.

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Associated Press writers Anne Flaherty, Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Matthew Lee, Anne Gearan and Calvin Woodward contributed to this story.