WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A Pentagon study reportedly will recommend a small, short-term increase in U.S. troop levels in Iraq and a long-term commitment to training Iraqi troops.
Citing senior defense officials, the Washington Post reported that the closely guarded review of options for Iraq has outlined three basic options -- commit more troops, reduce the force but stay longer, or pull out.
Insiders call the choices "Go Big," "Go Long" and "Go Home," the newspaper said, and the review will likely recommend a combination of a small increase in U.S. troops for the short term, combined with a long-term commitment to accelerated training and advising of Iraqi forces.
The study was commissioned by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace. It comes at a time when violence in Iraq is escalating and public sentiment has largely turned against the war in the United States.
The study is independent of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan review of the situation in Iraq being prepared for President George W. Bush.
