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Brigade may be Extended in Iraq

Jul-27-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

As the article makes clear, no official decision has been made yet. Due to OPSEC concerns, we ask that you not share any information you may have heard until an announcement has been made by the Army.

Link to Full Article
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Military commanders in Iraq are considering extending the deployment of an Alaska-based Army brigade as part of the plan to increase forces in Baghdad to quell the violence.

According to a senior Defense Department official, portions of the 172nd Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Wainwright, could see their return home delayed. But the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are not final, said Wednesday that the proposal has not been presented to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Rumsfeld must approve any deployments that exceed 365 days. He has approved such extensions in the past, including several last fall when U.S. forces were increased to deal with violence at the time of the Iraqi elections.

The official also said that planned troop deployments to Iraq next month will go on as scheduled.

The decision to maintain about 15 combat brigades in Iraq, coupled with the new commitment to shore up Baghdad, shows how difficult it is to control the sectarian fighting in Iraq. [...]

The 172nd is a Stryker brigade that has operated in northern Iraq. It included about 4,400 troops, but at least 200 have returned to Alaska; some others are in Kuwait awaiting transportation home.

It was not clear Wednesday how many could have their deployment extended.

Historically the extensions approved by Rumsfeld have lasted about a month or two. This extension, if approved, would increase the overall number of U.S. troops in Iraq because the Stryker brigade set to replace the Alaska unit is beginning to deploy to Iraq. The two would overlap for longer than initially planned.

There are currently about 127,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

Stryker brigades are highly mobile units that used a new wheeled, armored vehicle. They normally have about 3,900 Soldiers. The 172nd has had several other specialty units attached to it, including some Navy and Air Force troops and some military police.

Meanwhile, members of Congress are asking for details on the plan to shore up Baghdad.

Related Article:

Fort Lewis Strykers could head for Baghdad - The News Tribune


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