Pentagon plans options for 'surge'

WASHINGTON -- As President Bush mulls over possible changes in Iraq policy, military planners are mapping out a number of options for a surge of U.S. troops, if that is one of the decisions he makes.

Pentagon officials said Friday that any surge of forces into Iraq would be done by extending units currently there, moving units into Iraq earlier than planned, or shifting them from other locations around the world.

The most immediate and likely move would be to shift the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division from Kuwait _ where it is expected to deploy early next month _ into Iraq, said the officials, who requested anonymity because no decisions have been made.

That brigade is being sent to Kuwait to serve as the reserve force, and military commanders have routinely moved the reserve force into Iraq when needed. A typical brigade is about 3,500 soldiers, and moving them in would give an instant boost of troops.

Several officials said that military planners have been working on an array of options, but no one will know what units could be affected until the president decides how many troops he needs, and how quickly they have to be in Iraq.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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