Rumsfeld weighs increase in Iraqi security forces

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday that he may approve proposals by the Iraqi government and the top U.S. commander in Baghdad to increase the size of the Iraqi security forces.

"I'm very comfortable with the increases they've proposed and the accelerations in achievement of some of their targets," Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon, when asked about a report by CBS News that Gen. George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, was going to recommend an increase of up to 100,000 soldiers and police.

Rumsfeld said he hoped to have a meeting on this later Tuesday and "come to some closure on it."

Rumsfeld would not say how big of an increase has been proposed. He also did not say whether Casey and the Iraqi government have proposed the same size increase. He said the final decision would be announced in Baghdad.

U.S. government approval is required for any plan to expand the size of the Iraqi forces because it could not be accomplished without additional U.S. funds and the provision of U.S. trainers and U.S.-acquired equipment.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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