President Barack Obama will "revisit" plans to withdraw more than 100,000 US troops from Iraq by August 2010 if violence there worsens.
Mr Obama made the pledge during a meeting of defence chiefs at the White House.
That is according to John McHugh, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, who was also present.
"He assured me that he will revisit his plan if the situation on the ground deteriorates and violence increases," Mr McHugh said in a statement.
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He went on: "Iraq faces significant challenges in 2009, including the national parliamentary election in December.
"Our commanders must have the flexibility they need in order to respond to these challenges, and President Obama assured me that there is a Plan B."
