U.S. Army looks to shift Iraq burden

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- More than 20,000 U.S. Army troops will redeploy in Iraq next month, but in a new role of putting the burden of security on that country's forces.

The Fourth Infantry Division will represent about 15 percent of the 138,000-strong U.S. commitment scheduled to remain in Iraq at least through the early part of the year, and will remain in a stand-back role, available if Iraqi forces need assistance, the New York Times said.

The goal is to make Iraqi patrols the norm, with stability no longer dependent on the large foreign force that offends and enrages Iraqis.

Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey said Iraq's elections Thursday offered a new framework and a new time frame, if not a deadline, for the allied effort.

"For the first time since this mission began, we've got a government that will come into power with the expectation that it will sit for four years," he said.