In an interview granted to The Washington Post on Tuesday, Mr Bush said he planned to expand the size of the military to deal with the broader, long-term fight against terrorism. The new Defence Secretary Robert Gates has been asked to assess the idea.

A temporary deployment of extra troops in Iraq was "something that's being explored" as President Bush considers his strategy on Iraq, White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

President Bush gave no estimates of how many troops might be added but said he agreed with Pentagon officials that the current military is being stretched too thin.

President Bush said he has not yet made a decision about a new strategy for Iraq, which he is expected to announce next month.

The US currently has about 140,000 troops in Iraq.

BBC/VOVNews