ITN2: Islamic World News

: "U.S. Commander Seeks More Iraq Troops

Mar 16, 08:16 AM

Pentagon officials say the top U.S. commander in Iraq is requesting an additional Army brigade as part of the increased U.S. presence in the country.

The officials said U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus is requesting the five brigades already slated to be shipped to Iraq be accompanied by a combat aviation unit of between 2,500 and 3,000 soldiers, The Boston Globe reported Friday. The unit would be accompanied by dozens of helicopters and gun ships.

The sixth brigade would bring the total expansion of the U.S. presence in Iraq to nearly 30,000 troops after U.S. President George Bush announced last week that the initial 21,500 soldiers slated for deployment would be accompanied by an additional 4,700 support troops. There are an estimated 130,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq.

This is the next shoe to drop, said a senior Pentagon official close to the situation, who spoke to the Globe on condition of anonymity. But you cannot put five combat brigades in there and not have more aviation guys, military police, and intelligence units."