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U.S. Soldiers to Serve 3 Months Longer in Iraq
U.S. soldiers will serve up to 15 months in Iraq and Afghanistan instead of a year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at the news conference, Reuters reported.
The regular troops serving in the region of Central Command, i.e. from East Africa across the Middle East and to Central Asia, could be deployed for up to 15 months. The decision takes effect immediately, the Pentagon chief specified.
This extension of the service term is required to implement the plan of President George W. Bush targeted at ensuring stability in Iraq. Nowadays, there are roughly 145,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and Pentagon has failed to execute its rotation program allowing the military to spend two years at home after serving for 12 months. At present, they have to get back to service after a year at home.
Meanwhile, the death toll of the United States in Iraq has long surpassed the number of 9/11 Operation victims. More than 3,240 of U.S. troops have been killed since the military campaign started there in March of 2003.
www.kommersant.com
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