U.S. Marines will shift to Afghanistan

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Gen. James T. Conway, the top U.S. Marine general, is shown here in a Nov. 11 file photo. Conway said Monday that there is a growing consense among defense leaders to shift Marines to Afghanistan form Iraq, probably starting in early 2009.

WASHINGTON (AP) — There is a growing consensus among defense leaders to send a substantial contingent of Marines to Afghanistan, probably beginning next spring, while dramatically reducing their presence in western Iraq, the top Marine general told The Associated Press on Monday.

Gen. James Conway, the Marine Corps commandant, said in an interview that Marine units tentatively scheduled to go to Iraq next spring are already incorporating some training for Afghanistan into their preparations.

He said he has had discussions with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and believes the Pentagon chief "would not object to the idea of a fairly strategic shift of focus of Marines from Iraq to Afghanistan." ....