The United States has begun making plans to reduce its troop numbers in Iraq from the current 135,000 by 2006, as the new Iraqi government assumes more security responsibilities, The New York Times said Thursday quoting senior military officials.
While the current troop levels will likely be maintained throughout 2005, the Joint Staff is working on detailed plans to reduce them by 2006, said an unnamed official.
Other officials said the options revolved around a total of 100,000 troops staying in Iraq after this date, but added that this number could be increased if the security situation worsened.
The report comes despite signs that the US troop commitment is insufficient to cope with Iraq's insurgents and warnings that US forces are being severely strained by the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
One sign of the crunch is the US army's recently-announced plans to recall some 5,600 retired troops who are already served in Iraq to beef up current troop strength - a move that has prompted some lawmakers to propose reinstating the draft.
General Richard Cody told the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that military officials were concerned that the largest US troop deployment since World War II have taken a toll on US readiness and even its ability to replace forces already deployed.
But President George W. Bush's approval rating has fallen below 50 percent, as more and more Americans surveyed by pollsters believe he made a mistake by invading Iraq. Plans to draw down military forces in Iraq could improve his prospects for re-election on November 2.
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