Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq 

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's campaign promise to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months after he takes office, is now an option for Pentagon to arrange the withdrawal, the Pentagon said Thursday.

    Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters that the U.S. military is "prepared to give him (Obama) a range of options as soon as he is ready," including the 16-month proposal.

    Earlier news reports said the Pentagon favors removing all U.S. combat troops from Iraqi urban areas in 2009, and all American troops from Iraq by 2011, in keeping with recent Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, signed by President George W. Bush.

    However, such a plan will make the withdrawal at a slower pace than Obama promised during the presidential campaign, when he called for all combat troops to be out within 16 months -- by May of 2010.

    U.S. analysts said that the Pentagon's inclusion of Obama's proposal indicates that as the commander-in-chief of all U.S. armed forces, he might seek a speedier withdrawal after taking office on Jan. 20.