President Bush on Tuesday announced a troop deployment shift for America's two wars, a move that reflects a more stable Iraq and an increasingly volatile Afghanistan.
Through early next year, about 8,000 American troops will leave Iraq and not be replaced. Some 4,500 other US service members will go to Afghanistan.
Mr Bush also emphasised the US intention to help Pakistan defeat insurgents who are using the country's tribal areas to stage attacks in Afghanistan.
Bush said he is making the Iraqi troop withdrawal decision based on a recommendation from top military officers, including Gen. David Petraeus, the highest-ranking US military officer in Iraq.
An adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki welcomed Bush's decision. Democrats were less than enthusiastic about Mr Bush's announcement.
Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama praised President Bush for announcing additional troops for Afghanistan and "moving in the direction of the policy that I have advocated for years."
At present, there are about 146,000 US troops in Iraq.
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