U.S. increases outposts in greater Baghdad as security improves
BAGHDAD — The U.S. military plans to expand its presence around the
Iraqi capital.
The military intends to increase garrisons throughout Baghdad by more
than 30 percent in 2008. Officials said the military would enter
neighborhoods long regarded as insurgency strongholds.
"I don't want there to be anyplace in Baghdad where Al Qaida or anyone
else can start to take hold because we've ignored that particular," Maj.
Gen. Jeffrey Hammond, commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad, said.
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In a Jan. 29 briefing, Hammond, who entered his post earlier this month,
said the U.S. military would establish 24 additional outposts in Baghdad, Middle East Newsline reported.
The military has been operating 75 garrisons around the city.
"The idea is to push ourselves into locations where maybe in the past we
didn't go before," Hammond said.
Hammond said the increase in military outposts would be facilitated by
what he termed a "remarkable" improvement in security in Baghdad. He said
work on the outposts would begin imminently.
