1,500 more troops headed for Iraq

Thursday, August 25, 2005

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- More troops are headed to Iraq, this time 1,500 paratroopers to temporarily boost military strength during the fall election, the Pentagon has announced.

Two battalions of the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy in mid-September from their home base of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The deployment will include the 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment (AIR) and the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR).

This is the third time the United States has raised troop levels during political milestones in Iraq. Similar increases were made during the June 2004 transfer to Iraqi sovereignty and during January's elections.

cont...
CNN.com