Those 'Up to 300' Troops in Iraq Are Now About 750

Two weeks ago, Barack Obama announced that he was sending "up to 300" troops to Iraq. Now The New York Times reports that the number has grown:

Obama administration officials said that about 200 more troops had been sent to protect the American Embassy in Baghdad and the Baghdad airport. The additional troops, who arrived on Sunday, will operate helicopters and drones to "bolster airfield and route security," Rear Adm. John F. Kirby, the Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. In addition to those forces, another 100 troops who the Pentagon had previously said would be sent to Iraq are headed to Baghdad to help with security and logistics. The moves will raise the total number of American troops deployed to Iraq for security and advisory missions to about 750.

As though to complete the bitter taste of 2003, the paper adds that, as Iraq's political parties prepare to choose new leaders, one "prominently mentioned" candidate for prime minister is Ahmed Chalabi.

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