U.S. force in Iraq at 140,000, most since January

[ECH1969]

The United States has expanded its force in Iraq to 140,000 troops, the most since January and 13,000 more than five weeks ago, the Pentagon said on Thursday, amid relentless violence in Baghdad and elsewhere.

This follows July's decision by commanders to augment the U.S. military presence in Baghdad to try to curb escalating sectarian violence that has heightened concern about all-out civil war in Iraq.

Recent moves including the Pentagon's July 27 decision to delay for up to four months the scheduled departure from Iraq of about 4,000 soldiers from an Alaska-based brigade have indicated significant U.S. troop cuts are unlikely in the near future.

The Pentagon said the U.S. force, which stood at 127,000 on July 25, now numbers 140,000.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N31322033.htm

[endarkenment]

1. You can't have an October withdrawal

without a preceding build up.

[MikeyJones]

2. U.S. force in Iraq at 140,000

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U.S. force in Iraq at 140,000

By Will Dunham
Thu Aug 31, 6:15 PM ET



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has expanded its force in Iraq to 140,000 troops, the most since January and 13,000 more than five weeks ago, the Pentagon said on Thursday, amid relentless violence in Baghdad and elsewhere.

This follows July's decision by commanders to augment the U.S. military presence in Baghdad to try to curb escalating sectarian violence that has heightened concern about all-out civil war in Iraq.

Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a military spokesman in Iraq, said there are now about 15,000 U.S. troops operating in Baghdad.

As American troops continue to fight a tenacious insurgency nearly 3 1/2 years into the war, U.S. military deaths in Iraq reached at least 64 in August -- increasing from 43 in July and ending three straight monthly declines.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060831/ts_nm/iraq_usa_troops_dc

[marmar]

3. Geez. Who are they going to fight Iran with?

:think:

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[marmar]

6. Oh Canada, my home and native land....

:)

[Demeter]

5. The Army They Wish They Had!

They already broke the one they came with.

[Moderator]

7. MikeyJones, please use the actual headline as your subject line

per LBN rules. Thank you.

The subject line should read, "U.S. force in Iraq at 140,000." You still have time to edit your post.

[MikeyJones]

9. Forgive me moderator.....

It's been a long day. My fault, I'll correct it immediately.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. why do you hate America so?

it is not the number, but the staying of the coarse.

[MikeyJones]

11. I hate America because I'm a vile, evil, pinko, terrorist loving communist

:sarcasm:

[Warren Stupidity]

10. October big troop out bullshit?

[onehandle]

12. Draft Bush Voters. nt

[muryan]

13. Id love to be in the military

but im not getting involved in this cluster fuck. no way

[rodeodance]

14. as bush says--they change tactics as needed.

[Nihil]

15. Don't worry ... the number will go down again, day by day ...

:cry: