Report: Casey to be replaced as part of 'surge'

General George Casey listens as Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks in Baghdad on December 20, 2006.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush is likely to shorten the term of the top general in Iraq, George Casey, as part of a shift in strategy, The New York Times reported.

Sources told the newspaper Bush is increasingly at odds with Casey's strategy of turning over responsibility for security to the Iraqis, shrinking the number of U.S. bases and beginning the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops.

The plan was endorsed by Donald Rumsfeld, then the Defense secretary, whom Bush replaced in November. Now, sources tell the Times that Casey was scheduled to rotate out of Iraq in the summer but it appears his return could happen in February or March, the Times said.

Read the rest at UPI

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