Troop Levels in Iraq Could Be Cut in 2006

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Thursday raised the possibility of reducing U.S. troop levels in Iraq next year below the 137,000 baseline.

Between meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Rumsfeld told reporters that if next week's elections in Iraq go well he expects U.S. troops levels, which were boosted to nearly 160,000 in advance of the election, to return to the 137,000 level.

"If conditions permit, we could go below that," he said.

Later he stressed that a decision to go below 137,000 would depend on conditions after the election and the recommendation of senior U.S. commanders.

Rumsfeld went to Capitol Hill as part of the administration's effort to communicate more with Congress about the war in Iraq. Some lawmakers, including Republicans, had been pressing for more information on the war.

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(Of course troop levels will be cut back in 2006 --- there's elections coming up and this administration does not do ANYTHING that is not politically motivated. eaprez)