Petraeus expects to recommend further drawdown

Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said that he will recommend further troop reductions in Iraq by fall.

{mosads}“My sense is that I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further reductions,” Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday.

Petraeus who has been nominated to head Central Command with responsibility over the entire Middle East and the Horn of Africa, said that the reduction will likely not be an entire brigade.

Earlier this year, Petraeus recommended the reduction of 30,000 troops by July. Following that drawdown, the general said there should be a pause in further troop reductions to evaluate the situation on the ground.