AFP - With less than five months left in his term, President George W. Bush was to announce Tuesday he is ordering a modest US troop withdrawal from Iraq and ramping up force levels in Afghanistan.

AP - President Bush plans to pull 8,000 more combat and support troops out of Iraq by February, a measured drawdown that will leave nearly the same level of U.S. forces in the war zone for the rest of the year.

AFP - The speaker of northern Iraq's regional parliament warned Baghdad on Monday about the purchase of high-tech US military hardware, amid concerns the weapons could be used against them.

AFP - The US Navy has deployed a helicopter carrier off the coast of Haiti to help with relief efforts in the aftermath of a series of storms, the military said Monday.

AFP - US President George W. Bush was expected to announce a decision on US troop levels in Iraq on Tuesday, four and a half month before his successor inherits the vastly unpopular war, officials said.

AP - As of Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at least 513 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Friday at 10 a.m. EDT.

AP - As of Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, at least 513 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Friday at 10 a.m. EDT.

Reuters - The Iraqi government is seeking to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S., American military officials familiar with the request told the Wall Street Journal.

AFP - Iraq's government wants to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing US military officials.

AP - President Bush will announce his decision on future troops levels in Iraq next week and is expected to largely follow the recommendations of military leaders to reduce the number by up to 8,000 by mid-January.

AFP - US President George W. Bush is likely to announce a decision on US troops levels in Iraq next week, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Friday.

AFP - Top US defense officials have recommended US President George W. Bush order only a modest US troop withdrawal from Iraq next year, with some of the forces shifted to Afghanistan, officials told AFP Friday.