But these days, troop levels in Iraq are going up, rather than down.

By the end of February 2014, the troop level is to be around 32,000.

Troop levels early this month of 132,000 had dropped to 127,000 last week, military officials said.

But other senior military officials said American troop levels could drop to around 105,000 by early next year from 150,000 now.

Many military planners are looking at future troop levels in Iraq, for different reasons.

Around the world troop levels are dropping and so is military spending.

Last week, the government said it would reduce its troop level to 1,000 to 1,500 in January, from 2,400.

Moscow also may press for especially low German troop levels.

And the troop levels are still dropping, arms experts believe.

The number of Americans who want to increase troop levels has tripled.