WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (AFP) - The United States plans to increase force levels in Iraq by about a brigade through the elections by extending tours of duty of some troops there by two months, a top US general said Friday.
Lieutenant General Lance Smith, deputy commander of the US Central Command, said additional troops may also be deployed from the United States if necessary to secure the country before the elections, which he said will be held January 27.
Smith said the number of troops would depend on the situation following the US-led assault to retake Fallujah but it will be "probably an additional brigade's worth of forces."
"We are talking mainly about extending some units," he told reporters at a press conference here. "We will make further assessment as we get a little bit closer and understand what the impact of Fallujah has been in the entire country."
"The issue by the way is not just numbers. The issue is really about experienced troops during this period of time of expected increased violence."
The US offensive in Fallujah set off a wave of insurgent attacks elsewhere in the Sunni Arab heartland north and west of Baghdad, as well as in the Iraqi capital.
The Pentagon last month announced plans to delay the return home of the army's 1st Cavalry Division's 3,500-strong 2nd Brigade, which will raise US forces levels to 142,000 through the elections.
The question of whether the United States has enough troops in Iraq has been a hot political issue here, with critics charging that the failure to deploy sufficient troops has undermined stability in the country.
Lance said there are currently 18 brigades in the Iraq.
11/19/2004 21:52 GMT - AFP