New U.S. Commander In Iraq Says Bush Plan Could Work

The U.S. Army general picked to carry out President George W. Bush's new Iraq stabilization plan says he believes it can quell the sectarian killing.

Lieutenant General David Petraeus cautioned, however, against expecting quick results, and said no amount of U.S. effort will succeed unless Iraqis learn to compromise politically.

He spoke at his Senate confirmation hearing to replace General George Casey as the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

Petraeus said the U.S. military needs greatly increased contributions from other federal agencies to stabilize Iraq, which is rocked by political divisions, a weak economy, a battered infrastructure, and police corruption.

If confirmed, Petraeus will implement Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 U.S. troops to Iraq, mostly to Baghdad.

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