Friday, September 5, 2008

Iraq Troop Reduction

WASHINGTON — Top military officials have recommended the withdrawal of about 7,000 troops from Iraq early next year, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the proposal. The withdrawn troops will return home and be replaced by an equal number of troops who will be deployed to Afghanistan, where commanders have asked for additional forces to fight Taliban insurgents, said another Pentagon official. The recommendation does not specify reductions in Iraq beyond that cut. The official said a battalion of Marines, about 800 troops, will be allowed to go home from Iraq in the fall. Pentagon officials have said they expect to continue reducing forces next year if security keeps improving. There are 146,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

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