From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The President, the war in Iraq, and America's soldiers.

Hello again, I'm Mormon All in. This is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues. Americans care about most.

President Bush today accepted the recommendations of General Petraeus.

The drawdown of troops from Iraq will stop when the surge ends in July.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said he's just dragging this out,

leaving a failed war and a failed economy for the next president.

Because of strains on the troops, Mr. Bush reduced tours of duty from 15 months to 12, but that won't start until August 1st.

On To the Point, we'll talk with soldiers about the state of morale after six years of war.

What do multiple tours on the front lines mean for their families?

What do they say about recruitment, retention, and readiness for future contingencies. First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Hello again, Warren Olney, back with To the Point. President Bush today gave General David Petraeus the pause in troop reductions he asked for.

When the surge ends in July, American forces will remain 140,000 strong. On To the Point, we'll get the reactions from soldiers and their families.

Mr. Bush also reduced tours of duty from 15 months to 12, starting on August 1st. He was

upbeat about progress. Here's what he said about ongoing costs to American taxpayers.

Iraqis in their recent budget would outspend us on reconstruction by more than 10 to 1.

And American funding for large-scale reconstruction projects is approaching zero.

The president also had a message for the Democratic leadership of the Congress.

Members of Congress must pass a bill that provides our troops the resources they need

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