Bush reducing troops in Iraq

2005-12-23 08:24

Fallujah - President George W Bush has authorised new cuts in US combat troops in Iraq, below the 138 000 level that prevailed for most of this year, US defence secretary Donald H Rumsfeld said on Friday.

Addressing US troops at this former insurgent stronghold, Rumsfeld did not reveal the exact size of the troop cut, but Pentagon officials have said it could be as much as 7 000 combat troops.

Two army brigades that had been scheduled for combat tours - one from Fort Riley, Kansas, the other now in Kuwait - will no longer deploy to Iraq. That will reduce the number of combat brigades in Iraq from 17 to 15.

"The effect of these adjustments will reduce forces in Iraq by the spring of 2006 below the current high of 160 000 during the (Iraqi) election period to below the 138 000 baseline that had existed before the most recent elections," Rumsfeld said.

Rumsfeld aides said details were to be provided later at the Pentagon.

Further reductions will be considered "at some point in 2006", after the new Iraqi government is in place and is prepared to discuss the future US military presence, said Rumsfeld.

The Pentagon sent an extra 20 000 troops to Iraq to bolster security during the recent elections, and Rumsfeld has previously said those 20 000 would be withdrawn in January to return US force levels to a 138 000 baseline.

Friday's announcement marks the first time Rumsfeld has said troop levels will dip below that baseline.

- AP