The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff are recommending a shift in the military focus in Iraq from battling "insurgents" to strengthening Iraqi forces along with a new emphasis on resolving political and economic problems, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.
Citing sources familiar with the White House Iraq policy review, the report said the top defense officials gave their assessment of what the military can and cannot do in Iraq during a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at the Pentagon on Wednesday.
According to the newspaper, the military chiefs do not support a troop buildup in Iraq but favor supporting and strengthening the Iraqi army.
The chiefs were also pressing for a much greater American efforts on the domestic political front and economic reconstruction, the report said.
