‘I’m the Iraq decision-maker’, Bush declares

US President George Bush last night said: “I’m the decision-maker” about sending more US troops to the war.

He challenged sceptical lawmakers not to condemn his buildup.

The president met with Army Lt Gen David Petraeus, newly confirmed by the Senate to command US troops in Iraq.

“My instruction to him was ‘Get over to the zone as quickly as possible, and implement a plan that will achieve our goals.’

“You’re going into an important battle in the war on terror,” Bush told Petraeus.