US troops in Iraq hit record number (161,000 troops) [View All]

[sabra]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-10-27T183303Z_01_SCH766732_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-USA-TROOPS.xml

US troops in Iraq hit record number


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has increased its forces in Iraq to the highest total of the war at 161,000 troops, and the Pentagon said on Thursday it expected a similar number in place for the December elections.

The U.S. military increased its force in Iraq in advance of the October 15 referendum in which Iraqis approved a new constitution. The current total is about 23,000 higher than the usual level of 138,000, which includes 17 brigades.

Iraqi voters go to the polls again on December 15 to select a new government.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita told reporters that the U.S. force would begin to decline "pretty dramatically" in the immediate future.