Pentagon: 9,000 more soldiers in rotation to Iraq; 4,500 on early deployment after less than year back home

WASHINGTON, April 2 (Reuters) - The Pentagon said on Monday it will send another 9,000 U.S. troops to Iraq, with about half of them returning to combat ahead of schedule, in order to maintain troop levels in its new security crackdown through at least August.

Two of the affected Army units, totalling about 4,500 troops, will return to combat short of their promised year at home, reflecting the strain placed on U.S. forces by commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"What you're seeing here today reflects a decision that will carry the level of effort ... through August '07," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

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