That is because some of the support, logistics and aviation troops that joined the extra combat brigades will remain, keeping the total at about 140,000.
The rest are to provide support, logistics and force protection.
Foreign troops support Iraqi policing missions.
Mr. Rumsfeld said military support troops, including logistics and medical specialists, would take part in an effort that formally begins next month.
Current U.S. plans include retaining air support, training of Afghan government troops, and logistics.
After other support and logistics units are withdrawn under the new orders, the American troop levels in Iraq would drop to about 138,000 by March, still several thousand more than were there in January 2007, when Mr. Bush announced the "surge" that brought the total over 160,000.
Not only does this give those foreign troops exposure to our military tactics, it also provides a critical link to American artillery, air support and logistics during operations.
With Allied support in logistics, equipment, training and air power, and with the assistance of Soviet troops taking part in the 1944 Belgrade Offensive, the Partisans gained control of Yugoslavia and the border regions of Italy and Austria by May 1945, during which time thousands of members of the Ustaše, as well as Croat refugees, were killed by the Yugoslav Partisans.
The campaign exists to support the logistics of the tour".
Usage does not, however, always assign "service support" to logistics.
