Reply #32: U.S. to increase military presence in Iraq

[Judi Lynn]

Aug. 8, 2005, 8:20PM

U.S. to increase military presence in Iraq
Referendum, election plans spur the added security, the Pentagon says
By WILL DUNHAM
Reuters News Service

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military plans to raise troop levels in Iraq this fall to bolster security for the planned October constitutional referendum and December elections for a new government, the Pentagon said Monday.

The increase in troops coincides with a spike in the number of Americans killed fighting the insurgency after a U.S.-led invasion toppled President Saddam Hussein in 2003. Since July 30, at least 41 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, including 18 just last Wednesday.

A Pentagon tally released Monday listed 1,829 U.S. military deaths since the start of the war in March 2003. Another 13,700 troops have been wounded in action.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said the Defense Department may delay the scheduled departure of an unspecified number of the 139,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq, achieving a short-term increase in the size of the force as more troops flow into the country as previously planned.
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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3301636
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