U.S. Raises Troop Level by 23,000 to 161,000

The United States has increased its forces in Iraq to 161,000 troops, the highest total of the war, and the Pentagon said it expected a similar number to be in place for Dec. 15 elections.

The U.S. increased the troop level ahead of the Oct. 15 referendum in which Iraqis approved a draft constitution. The total is about 23,000 higher than the usual level.

Iraqi voters go to the polls again to select a new National Assembly. Chief Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said he expected Army Gen. George W. Casey, the top commander in Iraq, to “err on the side of more rather than less for the purposes of the election.”