Aide: 1st Wave Of US Surge Troops To Go To Iraq By End Of January

WASHINGTON (AP)–The first wave of additional U.S. troops will go into Iraq before the end of the month under U.S. President George W. Bush’s new plan, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

Up to 20,000 U.S. troops will be put on alert and be prepared to deploy, under the president’s plan, but the ongoing increase in forces on the ground will be gradual, said the official, who requested anonymity because the plans have not yet been announced.

Moving first would be the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, which is in Kuwait and poised to deploy quickly into Iraq.