US mulls withdrawal of troops from Iraq: Report

A factor behind the consideration, it said, is need for additional troops in Afghanistan, where the Taliban and other fighters have intensified insurgency, inflicting an increasing number of casualties on Afghan and American-led forces.

More American and allied troops died in Afghanistan than in Iraq in May and June, a trend that has continued this month, the paper noted.

Though no decision has yet been taken, the desire to move quickly on this front reflects the growing view in Pentagon, which besides easing the strain on military also wants to release more troops for Afghanistan and other potential missions, it said.

The most optimistic course of events would still leave 120,000 to 130,000 American troops in Iraq, down from the peak of 170,000 reached late last year after Bush ordered what came to be known as “surge” of additional forces, the Times said.

Any troop reduction announced in the heat of the Presidential election could blur the sharp differences between the likely candidates — Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama — with political benefit of the move estimated to go more in favour of the former, who is an avid supporter of the current strategy in Iraq.

Reduction would indicate that strategy has worked and could defuse anti-war sentiment among voters.