Iraq surge over, evaluation period begins

[unhappycamper]

Iraq surge over, evaluation period begins
By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jul 17, 2008 10:41:21 EDT

WASHINGTON — The military surge into Iraq that began more than 18 months ago has ended. But 150,000 U.S. troops remain, as many as 15,000 more than before the buildup began.

In recent days, the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade, the last of the five additional combat brigades sent in by President Bush last year, left the country.

Its departure marks the end of what the Pentagon calls the “surge.” And it starts the 45-day evaluation period that Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told Congress he would need to assess the security situation and determine how many more troops he could send home.

~snip~

While there now are technically 13 Army and two Marine combat brigades in Iraq — the same as before the buildup — the force is as much as 10 percent larger than it was in January 2007.

~snip~

So, the officials suggested, the military buildup may not really be over until the transitions are complete.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/07/ap_surge_071608/

[OwnedByFerrets]

1. Not that it matters

to the thousands who died during this operation, but it isnt a surge, its an escalation.