Pentagon looks at cuts in Iraq, additions in Afghanistan

[Gunny]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two top Pentagon officials said Wednesday that they expect to be able to recommend troops cuts in Iraq this fall and will try to increase troops in Afghanistan.

The remarks came after U.S. soldiers were killed Sunday in the deadliest firefight in Afghanistan in recent years.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he had ruled out extending the deployment of U.S. forces in Afghanistan or making tours longer than 15 months, leaving few options other than shifting troops who were destined for Iraq to Afghanistan instead.

"We are clearly working very hard to see if there are opportunities to send additional forces sooner rather than later," he said.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that improvements he saw on his recent trip to Iraq are the reason he may be able to recommend the troop reduction.

He said there is no pending request for a troop reduction.

The comments about Afghanistan come after nine U.S. soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on an outpost in eastern Afghanistan.

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