Powell urged Bush, Blair to boost troops in Iraq: Report
US Secretary of State Colin Powell told his President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair last month that there were too few troops in Iraq, The Washington Post reported on Friday.
Citing people familiar with records of the private talks, the newspaper said Powell's advice came 10 days after the end of the presidential campaign, during intense discussions on Iraq between Bush and Blair.
Less than three weeks after the Nov. 12, White House meeting, the Pentagon said it would boost the US military presence in Iraq by 12,000 troops, the newspaper said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The Pentagon announced on Dec. 1 that a force of 138,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq would be increased by the end of December to 150,000, the highest level since the war began in March 2003, to improve security for scheduled Jan. 30, Iraqi elections.
Comments