U.S. to deploy 4 new combat battalions

WASHINGTON: The Defense Department is developing plans to send four more battalions of U.S. troops to Iraq early next year to boost security in Baghdad, senior defense officials said Wednesday. Meanwhile, a closely watched bipartisan commission studying U.S. policy in the war-torn country said it would release its report next week.

The extra combat engineer battalions of reserves to be sent to Baghdad would total about 3,500 troops, officials said. They said the units would come from around the United States and have already done a tour in Iraq, but they said there has been no final decision on which battalions will go.

The moves come as violence continues to rise in Baghdad, and President George W.Bush is under growing pressure to craft an exit strategy that would withdraw a substantial number of U.S. troops from Iraq, while shifting more responsibility to the Iraqi government.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

Related Link:
Commandant: Marines need more troops for the 'long war'

Related Link:
Pentagon Study to recommend troop increase

Related Link:
2,200 more reserve force Marines heading to Anbar

Related Link:
Marines in Iraq Expanding Adviser Teams

Related Link:
Pentagon: 57,000 troops to deploy early next year

Related Link:
Report: Bush plans "last big push"; Baker commission to comply

Related Link:
New Iraq deployments could stretch Reserve Force

Related Link:
Army seeks to increase rotation through reassignment of specialists to 'high-demand roles'

Related Link:
Report: U.S. building massive permanent base in north Iraq

Related Link:
Marines plan recalling reserve combat battalions for 2nd tours in 2008

Related Link:
Secretary of AF: Airmen to remain in Iraq past 2010

Related Link:
Army: Troops to stay in Iraq until 2010

Related Link:
Expert: Iraq army has only 50% chance of success, no U.S. troop reductions foreseeable