With security for the Iraqi elections in January in mind, officials of the
Defense Department are evaluating a possible increase of total troop
strength in Iraq by up to 22,000, according to officials. The increase could
be effected by delaying some rotations from Iraq while speeding up some
deployments from the U.S. One possibility, for example, would be to delay
the planned January rotation to the States of the 1st Cavalry Division while
accelerating deployment of elements of the 3rd Infantry Division. Another
would be to deploy U.S. troops now in reserve in Kuwait, or to deploy
elements of the 82nd Airborne, said officials. A decision is expected by
December after Iraqi forces are evaluated. Meanwhile Army chief of staff
Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker has said that 12-month combat tours will not be
shortened, at least through 2005.
