U.S. Considers Large, Temporary Troop Increase in Iraq

New York Times - World - Middle East

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By DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: November 21, 2006

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 — Pentagon officials conducting a review of Iraq strategy are considering a substantial but temporary increase in American troop levels and the addition of several thousand more trainers to work with Iraqi forces, a senior Defense Department official said Monday.

The idea, dubbed the “surge option” by some officials, would involve increasing American forces by 20,000 troops or more for several months in the hope of improving security, especially in Baghdad. That would mark a sharp rise over the current baseline of 144,000 troops.

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Is a 14% increase of troops considered, "a sharp rise over the current baseline"?