Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:29

The number of troops that would be involved in President Bush’s Iraq surge plan announced in January was originally pegged at 21,500. But they neglected to mention the number of increased support troops that would be required as well. Total projected troop surge levels are not approaching 30,000.

In early February Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Congress that around 3,000 support troops would be needed in addition to the original 21,500-force strength estimate.

However, that number has jumped to at least 4,000 and “maybe as many as 7,000,” said Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England in testimony this month before the House Budget Committee.

Nearly 140,000 troops are already in Iraq.

England said the new estimate could increase the projected $5.6 billion cost of the troop surge by $1 billion if 4,000 troops were added.

In a worst-case scenario the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said in January that potential costs of a four-month surge could reach approximately $13 billion if the Pentagon had underestimated the increased numbers of support troops needed.