There will be no major change in troop strength in Afghanistan or Iraq before a new president takes over. But in the next several months, the Pentagon will shift some of its focus and troops to Afghanistan.
President Bush said this morning that the progress being made in self-governance and security in Iraq will allow the United States to pull 8,000 soldiers out of Iraq early next year while America focuses more attention and sends more (and different) troops to Afghanistan.
The San Francisco Chronicle says while there has been a big improvement in the Anbar province, where the withdrawal will begin, the change may be far from permanent or steady.
The drawdown in Iraq means there will will be 14 brigades or about 138,000 Americans left there next spring.
See coverage from Stars and Stripes.
At the same time, the U.S. will send another 4,500 troops to Afghanistan.
The President said that a Marine battalion that was scheduled to go to Iraq will be in Afghanistan by November. In addition, an Army combat brigade that had planned to deploy to Iraq will also go to Afghanistan.
