US may boost troop levels in Iraq

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The US army says it may send more troops to Iraq before the January elections, depending on the outcome of its offensive in Falluja.US military commanders were considering whether to boost their troop levels in Iraq by several thousand, Lt Gen Lance Smith told a Pentagon news conference.

Gen Smith, the deputy head of US Central Command in Iraq, described the Falluja operation as very successful. But he said it was "too early to say" if it had broken rebels' resistance.

His remarks contrasted with those of the top marine commander in Iraq, Lt Gen John Sattler, who said on Thursday that the offensive had indeed "broken the back of the insurgency". US officers in Falluja say they hope to clear the city of insurgents in the next few days so that reconstruction work can begin.

Gen Smith said US commanders could boost troop strength in Iraq ahead of the elections by about a brigade - in other words, by 3,000 to 5,000. There are about 138,000 US troops in the country. Initially, the plan would be to ask troops currently there to stay on longer than originally intended. The Pentagon has already announced one temporary increase of about 3,000 troops.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4027591.stm