WP - U.S. Plans Downsizing in Iraq, Afghanistan

By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 20, 2005; Page A24

The Defense Department plans to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan by about 2,500 over the next few months, a 13 percent drop that will reflect an increasing NATO presence there, officials said yesterday.

The move, which has yet to be finalized, would reduce the number of U.S. forces from 19,000 to about 16,500. Instead of sending the 10th Mountain Division's 4th Brigade to replace the 173rd Airborne Brigade, as planned, the Army instead would send a 1,200-troop task force from the unit, a Pentagon official said yesterday. An announcement of the reduction could come soon.


Officials also said plans to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq are likely to go forward following last week's Iraqi elections, as the U.S. military continues to shift responsibility for security to Iraqi forces. The planned reduction, first reported last month, could bring the number of U.S. troops in Iraq to about 129,000 from a baseline of 138,000. There are approximately 150,000 U.S. troops there now because military strength was increased for the elections.

While cautioning that the plans are under discussion, officials in Iraq and Washington said that the number of U.S. combat brigades likely will decline from 17 to 15 in the spring, a measured reduction designed to give Iraqis more control over security while continuing to provide a strong U.S. presence.

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