Commanders expected to recommend Iraq pullout pause

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senior U.S. military officials are preparing to recommend to President Bush a four- to six-week pause in additional troop withdrawals from Iraq after the last of the "surge" brigades leaves in July, CNN has learned.


Several U.S. military officials said this is the most likely recommendation that Gen. David Petraeus and Adm. William Fallon will make to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday morning -- and then make to Bush on Monday.

The officials were familiar with the recommendations but not authorized to speak on the record.

The key issue is how long Petraeus may feel he needs to evaluate the impact of the "surge" troops' withdrawal before he is ready to recommend more reductions.

Military commanders would want to see at least six weeks of data on violence and attack trends after July to decide if more reductions could be made, two officials told CNN.

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