The Bush administration has consistently tied withdrawal of troops from Iraq to conditions on the ground, but that guideline may change abruptly if a Democrat is elected president.

Senator Barack Obama, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, has said he will begin withdrawing US troops from Iraq immediately and will pull out all US combat brigades within 16 months.

Senator Hillary Clinton has said she would require the Joint Chiefs to draw up a plan for the immediate start for a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq within 60 days of her taking office.

"I am against a timetable. Yes, I am," said Admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who would remain in office for at least the first year of next administration.

Mullen said he worried that a precipitous withdrawal would sacrifice the gains made in Iraq, and lead to the situation once again spiralling out of control.

"My recommendations will be made based on conditions on the ground," he told reporters.

"Should we get a direction -- actually any direction with a new administration -- I will assess that and make my recommendation, and then the president... whoever that might be, he or she, will make that decision and we'll move accordingly," he said.

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