General David Petreus, Commander of American forces in Iraq, said yesterday that he expects to bhe able to recommend additional troop cuts in Iraq by September:"My sense is I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for further reductions," Petraeus said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing yesterday on his nomination to the post that would put him in charge of U.S. military operations from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia. Petraeus declined to estimate the size of a troop cut. "I don't want to imply that that means a BCT [brigade combat team] or major combat formation, although it could," he said, referring to units that could total as many as several thousand troops. U.S. troop strength peaked in Iraq last year at about 165,000. Recent and already approved drawdowns are expected to bring the level to about 133,000 by the end of July. The hearing was surprisingly low-key and relatively brief, in sharp contrast to Petraeus's last two appearances...(Read Full Post)