Some Iraqis expected an early pullout of the US forces from Iraq in the wake of the deadliest roadside bomb attack on US troops since the war began in March 2003.  

Fourteen US marines were killed as a roadside bomb tore through a US assault vehicle on Wednesday in Haditha, some 250 km northwest of Baghdad, making it one of the bloodiest days of war.

A total of 20 US marines have been killed since Monday in Haditha, one of several violent towns in Iraq's western Anbar Province.

US President George W. Bush insisted in his speech on Wednesday that US troops would stay in Iraq until its mission is accomplished, refuting any early pullout.

However, some Iraqis hold the view that Americans are pressured to leave, while looking for ways to prevent their role of leadership being undermined in the international community.

"The Americans started talking about reducing their troops when the Iraqi forces can shoulder security. I think the best way to withdraw is to follow what they did in Vietnam, which is to announce victory and strengthen Iraqi army's ability to face the challenges after they leave," said Saad Ali, a retired officer.

As a former military man, Ali does not believe US forces would withdraw completely.

"They are thinking of permanent bases here as the Iraqi security forces are fighting a war against what they called 'terror'," he added.

More than 1,820 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003, according to media count, in addition to the thousands injured.

Despite the mounting casualties, Washington insisted the situation in Iraq has improved.

"They are trying to mislead their own people, making them believe things are getting better in Iraq," said Mohammed Qassim, a writer.

However, for the international correspondents working in Iraq, the assertion that security has improved could hardly be convincing. The situation has deteriorated to the point that no media workers dare to go out of Baghdad, not even the hotels they stay in.

American soldiers do not report the attacks on their patrols unless there are casualties, some journalists said.

Commanders of the US troops want to hear the news about the decrease of attacks not increase, some soldiers were quoted as saying, which makes Pentagon's estimates that daily attacks decrease from 140 to only 40 much less credible.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2005)