U.S. commander orders review of Baghdad crackdown

A soldier with a metal detector at a Baghdad checkpoint today.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The top American commander in Iraq has ordered a review of a U.S.-led crackdown in Baghdad, a spokesman said on Thursday, as reinforcements have failed to ease violence and the U.S. death toll has spiked this month.

At least 71 U.S. troops have been killed so far in October, a toll U.S. commanders have blamed on more perilous patrolling by U.S. forces trying to stamp out sectarian militias and insurgents in the sprawling capital.

"General Casey has ordered a review of Operation Together Forward. U.S. casualties are a grave concern but that is not driving the review," Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Garver said.

"The enemy is adapting and we have to make changes," he told Reuters. "This is a constant review process." He said that General George Casey, who commands the 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq ordered the review last week.

U.S. commanders launched Operation Forward Together in August to rein in spiraling sectarian violence in Baghdad, seen as key to stabilizing Iraq. Some 15,000 U.S. troops are helping Iraqi forces in raids that have targeted specific neighborhoods.

U.S. military spokesman Major General William Caldwell said on Thursday the crackdown had not eased violence overall.

"In Baghdad, Operation Together Forward has made a difference in the focus areas but it has not met our overall expectations of sustaining a reduction in the levels of violence," he told a news conference.

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