The first of up to 20,000 additional U.S. soldiers will go into Iraq by this month's end under President Bush's new war plan, a senior defense official disclosed Tuesday. Moving first into Iraq would be the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, which is now in Kuwait.
There are already about 132,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
Details of a gradual military buildup emerged a day before Bush's planned speech to the nation. According to the AP, Bush is also expected to call on friendly Mideast nations to boost their aid to Iraq but will ignore the recommendation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group that he include Syria and Iran in the efforts to halt Iraqi bloodshed, said the official.
Bush is expected to link the troop increase to promised steps by the Iraqi authorities to build up its own military, ease the country's sectarian tensions, increase reconstruction and enact a plan to distribute oil revenues among the country's religious sects.
