Pentagon creates, orders to Iraq, new US military units designed for withdrawal by end of 2011

Pauline Jelinek@, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS@

Released : Tuesday, July 14, 2009 2:24 PM

WASHINGTON, The Defence Department has created four custom-made Army brigades designed to focus more on advising Iraqis and less on fighting as America prepares for its 2011 exit from Iraq.

The Defence Department announced the new units Tuesday. They are among 30,000 troops being sent to Iraq starting later this year. all. Additionally, 7,500 troops are going to Afghanistan.

They all are replacements for forces finishing their tours of duty and rotating home from the campaigns, and don't raise troops levels in either country.

The newly created units going to Iraq are called Advisory and Assistance Brigades.

They include combat forces, engineers, military police, civil affairs officers and others to help stabilize operations and train Iraq forces to take over their own security.

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