Top U.S. general: Iraq strategy under review

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The nation's top general acknowledged Thursday that the U.S. strategy in Iraq is under review. But he insisted it was part of an ongoing process.

With U.S. casualties in Iraq mounting to levels that may soon make October the deadliest month in two years, Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CNN the overall Iraq strategy is under review.

That includes the linchpin of U.S. exit strategy -- relying on Iraqi forces to take up the fight, Pace said.

"Are those assumptions still valid? If they are OK, then how are we doing in getting to where we are supposed to be going?," Pace said. "If we're getting there, how do we reinforce that? If we're not, what should we change?"

Pace's candid comments come a day after Gen. George Casey, the head of U.S. troops in Iraq, met with President Bush, whose Iraq policy is being questioned by key members of his own party and a day after the Army's chief of staff told CNN U.S. troop levels will remain in Iraq through 2010.

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