WASHINGTON - Pennsylvania's Sen. Bob Casey today said the Bush administration is only considering a token withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraq to placate critics of the war, in advance of next week's official report on the progress of the troop "surge."

He based his assessment on news reports that Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander of U.S. forces, has suggested pulling about 4,000 troops at the beginning of next year.

The Iraqis need a "very clear and unambiguous" statement that we're going to withdraw, Mr. Casey, a Democrat, said at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank based in Washington, DC.

"We're out of patience. Look at what we've already contributed to this war," he said. "You've got to get moving."