By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
While some lawmakers press for a timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld made no promises on Sunday and said commanders' assessments will determine the pace of any military draw-down.
About 160,000 US troops are in Iraq as the country approaches elections on Dec. 15. The Pentagon has said it plans to scale back troop strength to its pre-election baseline of 138,000, depending on conditions.
Rumsfeld said the US-led coalition continues to make progress in training Iraqi security forces, which he placed at 212,000.