Concern over upcoming elections and widening tensions among Iraq's religious and ethnic groups appear to be the reasons for the U.S. military's recommendation to put the brakes on withdrawing more American troops from Iraq despite improvements in security. ...more

September 6, 2008

President Bush's top defense advisers have recommended he maintain 15 combat brigades in Iraq until the end of the year contrary to expectations that the improved security in Iraq would allow for quicker cuts, officials said. ...more

September 5, 2008

Republican John McCain's estimate of U.S. troop levels in Iraq touched off squabbling with Democrat Barack Obama on Friday, the latest turn in the presidential rivals' escalating disagreement over the war. ...more

May 31, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday presented his most extensive plan yet for winding down the war in Iraq, proposing to withdraw all combat troops by the end of next year and leaving behind a force of unspecified size to strike at terrorists, train Iraqi soldiers and protect American interests. ...more

September 13, 2007