Generals' and Obama troop plans differ

NEW YORK, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- A new plan for U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq proposed to President-elect Barack Obama falls short of his 16-month campaign timetable, military officials say.

The plan proposed this week by Gens. David Petraeus and Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commanders responsible for Iraq, was their first recommendation on troop withdrawals under an Obama presidency.

Their resistance to a faster troop reduction could put the new president in the tough position of overruling his generals or backing down on his goal, The New York Times said.

The plan proposes withdrawing two more brigades, some 7,000 to 8,000 troops, in the first six months of 2009, leaving a dozen combat brigades in Iraq. The military officials made it clear that all U.S. troops would not be out until sometime after May 2010, Obama's target.

Robert Gates, staying on as defense secretary, said he was confident that he and the new president might reach common ground, the Times reported.