The New York Times says Marine Commandant James Conway has raised the issue with Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
There are currently 25,000 Marines in Iraq among a total force of some 160,000 American troops. And there are no major Marine units in Afghanistan.
The general's idea is to have the Marine Corps take the lead there and leave Iraq to the Army. Supporters think such a realignment could allow both services to operate more efficiently in the face of strains that have been building up on each of them.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
