Report: Bush mulls Iraq troop withdrawals

WASHINGTON, July 12 (UPI) -- The Bush administration may withdraw as many as three combat brigades from Iraq beginning in September, The New York Times reported Saturday.

The newspaper, citing sources in the administration and the military, said one reason for pulling more troops than previously planned out of Iraq is to increase the number of troops available for Afghanistan. Withdrawing troops would also ease the strain on the Army, which some officials have said is close to breaking point because of extended deployments.

Even with the withdrawal of three brigades, 120,000 to 130,000 U.S. soldiers would remain in Iraq. There are 15 combat brigades in the country, but the number of soldiers has dropped slightly since the peak of the "surge" when there were 170,000 soldiers.

Withdrawing troops from Iraq before the election might also help the campaign of the likely Republican presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain, the report said.