Sources told the newspaper Bush is increasingly at odds with Casey's strategy of turning over responsibility for security to the Iraqis, shrinking the number of U.S. bases and beginning the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops.

The plan was endorsed by Donald Rumsfeld, then the Defense secretary, whom Bush replaced in November. Now, sources tell the Times that Casey was scheduled to rotate out of Iraq in the summer but it appears his return could happen in February or March, the Times said.

Marine commandant Gen. James Conway told the newspaper how Bush visited the Pentagon a few weeks ago for a classified briefing and tipped his hand about new policy.

"What I want to hear from you is how we're going to win," he quoted Bush as warning his commanders, "not how we're going to leave."