WASHINGTON, May 23, SPA -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton prodded the Pentagon Wednesday to plan quickly for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq _ a politically loaded contingency that military leaders have avoided discussing, the Associated Press reported. The Democratic presidential candidate, urged top military brass in a private meeting and a public letter to detail how they would bring forces home. The New York senator met privately with Joint ChiefsChairman Gen. Peter Pace late Tuesday, and sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates urging military leaders to begin such planning if they have not already. «Congress must be sure that we are prepared to withdraw our forces without any unnecessary danger,» Clinton wrote to Gates. «If no such plans exist, please provide an explanation for the decision not to engage in such planning.»--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/452376