3500 US Troops to Head Home From Iraq

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3,500 U.S. troops to head home from Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A "surge" brigade deployed to Iraq last year is heading back to the United States, the U.S. military said Monday.

About 3,500 soldiers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team will go back to Fort Benning, Georgia, over the next few weeks. It is the third surge brigade to leave Iraq, as planned, and two more are scheduled to leave by the end of July.

The U.S. troop escalation in 2007, referred to as the surge, was designed to take on the insurgency in and around Baghdad and provide stability for Iraqi politicians to develop legislation and reach accommodation on key national issues.

"The continued drawdown of surge brigades demonstrates continued progress in Iraq," Gen. Dan Allyn, chief of staff of Multi-National Corps - Iraq, said.

The troops went to Iraq in March 2007 to fight insurgents near Baghdad, east of the Diyala River.

The soldiers improved security, captured more than 600 insurgents, found many weapons, helped lower the number of attacks, assisted merchants in reopening shops and aided the local government authorities, the military said.

"I'd say we achieved mission success," said Col. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., brigade commander.

The troop increase is thought to be one of several factors that helped decrease overall violence in the country, even though fighting has flared up again recently between Shiite militias and coalition and Iraqi troops in Baghdad's Sadr City.

After the "surge" brigades return to the U.S. in July, commanders will determine future deployments after a 45-day pause.

rest of the article-  http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/05/06/iraq.main/index.html