U.S. to move 3,700 troops to Baghdad

updated 12:43 p.m. ET July 29, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. command confirmed Saturday that it will move about 3,700 troops to Baghdad to try to quell violence in the capital.

The 172nd Stryker Brigade, which had been due to leave Iraq after a year’s assignment, will be sent from northern Iraq to the capital, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said.

“This will place our most experienced unit with our most mobile and agile systems in support of our main effort,” Casey said. “With the rest of the elements of the plan, this gives us a potentially decisive capability to affect security in Baghdad.”

The statement followed President Bush’s decision this week to bolster American forces in Baghdad to try to stem the tide of Sunni-Shiite violence — now seen as a greater threat to Iraq than the Sunni-led insurgency.

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