Topic: Defense Department identifies major elements of 2006-2008

Team Infidel

Defense Department identifies major elements of 2006-2008 troop rotation for Iraq


By ROBERT BURNS - AP Military Writer
WASHINGTON - (AP) The Defense Department on Monday announced a
troop rotation for Iraq that will stretch through 2008 and be substantially
smaller than the current force, but officials said additional units may be
added.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld indicated that the newly
announced rotation did not necessarily reflect plans for how many American
troops will actually be needed in Iraq over the coming two years.
Officials also disclosed that U.S. commanders in Iraq decided they
would not need until early next year one brigade, normally numbering about
3,500 soldiers, that was scheduled to deploy to Iraq before the Dec. 15
election. That unit, the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort
Riley, Kansas, will deploy after the election instead.
The troop rotation announcement identified only six combat brigades,
including one from the National Guard, that will deploy over a two-year
period beginning in mid-2006. Currently there are about 17 brigades in Iraq.
Monday's announcement did not include any Marine Corps units, although they
apparently will be added later.
The forces, "as presently envisioned," number 92,000 soldiers, the
Pentagon said. That compares with the current total of about 160,000, which
has expanded this fall in preparation for the Dec. 15 elections. The usual
number during most of 2005 was about 138,000, but it's not clear whether
that will hold in 2006.
Rumsfeld, appearing before reporters with British Defense Minister
John Reid before the troop rotation details were announced, stressed that
conditions on the ground in the months ahead will determine any changes in
U.S. force levels.
"We're aware of the interest in the press in the mid-to-longer-term
levels of U.S. forces and coalition forces in Iraq, but I would caution that
it would be a mistake to draw conclusions about such matters when reviewing
the force rotation announcements that will be made later today," Rumsfeld
said.
"We continue to transition and transfer additional responsibilities
to the Iraqi security forces, and the people of Iraq continue to meet the
political milestones that they have established," he added. "As these and
other conditions are met, Gen. (George) Casey will continue to assess the
capabilities that he believes he will need and make recommendations as to
the levels he believes will be needed in the period over the coming months."

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