Bush authorizes cuts in troop strength.

Byline: Bryan Bender

Dec. 23--WASHINGTON -- President Bush has authorized new cuts in US combat troops in Iraq, below the 138,000 level that prevailed for most of this year, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today in Fallujah, Iraq.

Addressing US troops at the former insurgent stronghold, Rumsfeld did not reveal the exact size of the troop cut, but Pentagon officials have said it could be as much as 8,000 combat troops.

Two Army brigades that had been scheduled for combat tours -- one from Fort Riley, Kan., the other now in Kuwait -- will no longer deploy to Iraq. That will reduce the number of combat brigades in Iraq from 17 to 15.

"The effect of these adjustments will reduce forces in Iraq by the spring of 2006 below the current high of 160,000 during the (Iraqi) election period to below the 138,000 baseline that had existed before the most recent elections," Rumsfeld said.

The order sends the strongest signal yet of growing confidence in Iraq's security forces and faith that a newly elected government there can establish greater control over the country.

The United States has kept a baseline force of 138,000 troops in Iraq since April 2004 when the insurgency strengthened, a full year after the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein's government. An additional 20,000 US forces were dispatched temporarily to help guard polls during the October constitutional referendum and last week's vote for a new national assembly, bringing the total this fall to nearly 160,000.