Troops in Diyala to rise even as brigade goes

[unhappycamper]

Troops in Diyala to rise even as brigade goes
By Kim Gamel - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Nov 24, 2007 16:11:02 EST

BAGHDAD — U.S. military officials said Saturday that the overall number of American troops in Iraq will be reduced by about 5,000 with the withdrawal of a combat brigade from Diyala province. But the number of soldiers in the volatile province will actually increase, they said.

The U.S. command in Baghdad announced earlier this month that the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division had begun heading home to Fort Hood, Texas, and that its area would be taken by another brigade already operating in Iraq.

Col. David Sutherland, commander of the 3rd Brigade, acknowledged concerns that the withdrawal of U.S. troops could lead to a reversal of a decline in violence but said the transfer of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, will actually result in more troops in the province.

“Although our redeployment is part of the downgrade of the troops across Iraq, their presence allows more boots on the ground in the province,” he said.

Rear Adm. Gregory Smith, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said the increase would be about 2,400 troops because of repositioning, but he stressed that the overall U.S. force in Iraq will be reduced by 5,000.

“What’s now being left behind ... is an increase of around 2,400 or so troops available to conduct operations to the commanders now on the ground in Diyala,” he said at a joint press conference with Sutherland. “The capability will actually increase in terms of the number of soldiers on the ground in the coming weeks and months.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_diyalatroops_071124/