Iraq Troop Boost Erodes Readiness, General Says
210990
Outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker said yesterday that the increase of 17,500 Army combat troops in Iraq represents only the "tip of the iceberg" and will potentially require thousands of additional support troops and trainers, as well as equipment -- further eroding the Army's...
132531
WASHINGTON -- As President Bush weighs new strategies for Iraq, the Army's top general warned yesterday that his force "will break" without thousands more active duty troops and greater use of the reserves.
689521
The US military will temporarily boost its troop strength in Iraq to about 150,000 from a current level of 138,000 to provide extra security for Iraqi elections set for Jan.
55053
The U.S. military will boost its  troops in Iraq to 150,000 this month, the highest level since  the war began in March 2003, in order to improve security for  scheduled Jan 30. elections, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
302094
WASHINGTON -- Amid growing concerns about the stability of Iraq, the Pentagon yesterday announced that it will boost the number of troops there to the highest level since the start of the war, as US-led ground forces continue attacking insurgents while attempting to secure polling places in time for January elections.
603725
A senior U.S. commander in central Iraq said yesterday that a reduction of U.S. forces in his region this year would be "a giant step backwards," allowing insurgents to quickly return and jeopardizing the military's "tactical momentum" in reducing violence.
117875
The former U.S. commander in Iraq issued an urgent plea to the Pentagon last winter for supplies, saying he was "unable to sustain readiness." In a memo obtained by the Washington Post, Army Lt.-Gen. Ricardo ...
458620
Defense officials are not ruling out the possibility that they will need more U.S. troops to secure January's elections in increasingly violent Iraq, but believe Iraqi and perhaps international troops may be able to do the job instead, a top general said Wednesday.
212593
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 2: The Pentagon will increase the number of US troops in Iraq to about 150,000, the highest level since the US occupation of Iraq began in the spring of 2003, in an effort to reduce violence during elections scheduled next month.
435333
The top U.S. commander in Iraq told Congress today that the military objectives of the Bush administration's troop increase strategy in Iraq "are in large measure being met," and he forecast a reduction of U.S. forces "to pre-surge levels" without jeopardizing gains in the months ahead.
482644
The Defense Department will increase the number of troops in Iraq by 12,000, Joint Staff officials said at a Pentagon news conference today.
204040
The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, said on Friday the Iraqi government's progress toward national reconciliation, a key justification for increased troops levels, was disappointing.
711950
Army Gen. John P. Abizaid raised the possibility that forces in Iraq could start to be reshaped as early as next year to reduce the number of combat troops and concentrate on the development of Iraqi security forces.
442821
THE US military is raising troop levels in Iraq to nearly 142,000 ahead of January elections, delaying the return home of a seasoned combat brigade and keeping in place another division&#39;s headquarters staff.
452157
With the U.S. military heavily  engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan, a senior general said on  Thursday he expected the Pentagon will make permanent a  temporary increase of 30,000 soldiers in the Army.
164704
The top American general in Iraq said   on Wednesday he foresaw Iraqi forces assuming control of the   country's security within 12 to 18 months with "very little"   support from U.S.-led forces.
210390
A senior U.S. military commander said yesterday that Iraq's army must expand its rolls by at least 20,000 more soldiers than Washington had  anticipated, to help free U.S. troops from conducting daily patrols, checkpoints and other critical yet dangerous missions.