WASHINGTON — Only 5 per cent of Americans say they trust the Bush Administration to resolve the Iraq conflict, says a poll published on the eve of the American commander’s appearances before Congress. General David Petraeus was due to give testimony on progress in Iraq early today, Sydney time, to a joint hearing of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees and to the Senate tomorrow. The New York Times reported yesterday that General Petraeus had recommended that decisions on the contentious issue of reducing the main body of American troops in Iraq be put off for six months. He has informed Mr Bush that troop cuts may begin in mid-December, with the withdrawal of an American combat brigade, about 4000 troops. By mid-July, the American force in Iraq might be down to 15 combat brigades, the force level in Iraq before Mr Bush’s troop reinforcement plan. The precise timing of such reductions, which would leave about 130,000 troops in Iraq, would depend on conditions in the country. But the general has also said that it is too soon to present recommendations on reducing American forces below that level and has suggested that he wait […]