President Bush Announces Shorter Deployment Lengths

U.S. Army Pvt. Brandon Simpson-Goldsby scales the rooftops of homes during a three-day air assault mission to search for weapons caches and insurgents in Kirkuk, Iraq, April 3, 2008. Simpson-Goldsby is with the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet.

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2008 (AFPS) -- President Bush today directed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to reduce the deployment time for U.S. soldiers in Iraq from 15 months to one year.

Bush said he ordered the changes to reduce strain on the force as the result of the war in Iraq. Bush heard reports on conditions in Iraq from Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker this week.

Bush also ordered a one year dwell time for troops between deployments. The changes will affect those troops deploying after August 1. Those already on 15-month deployments are not affected.

Plans are to reduce the number of Army combat brigades serving there to 15 by July.

(Story by Fred W. Baker III, American Forces Press Service.)

Tags: Open Thread, Wire, Headlines, DOD, Military, War, United States, U.S., News in Balance
Global Tags: Washington DC, News and Politics, News, Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Life, Culture, Buzz, Tension