Senator: Petraeus To Warn Of Low Troop Morale

Following a dinner they shared in Baghdad, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Wednesday that he expects Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, to report to President Bush and Congress next month that American troops are exhausted by the war effort there.

Durbin, speaking to a group of Tribune editors and reporters in Chicago, said that during a trip through Iraq earlier this month he saw a military that has made some progress toward improving security since a manpower "surge" last February. But he said U.S. troops were being pushed to the limit and that Petraeus concurred.

"I expect the general to acknowledge to the president what I said about troop morale and the readiness of the troops to continue this battle at this level. He said as much over dinner," said Durbin, the Senate's assistant Democratic leader.

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