HAVING WON:

U.S. to Pull 15,000 Troops Out of Iraq (Bradley Graham, , February 4, 2005, Washington Post)

Buoyed by a higher turnout and less violence than expected in Sunday's Iraqi elections, Pentagon authorities have decided to start reducing the level of U.S. forces in Iraq next month by about 15,000 troops, down to about 135,000, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz said yesterday.

The reduction involves about three brigades of Army soldiers and Marines whose tours were extended last month to bolster security ahead of the elections, and an additional 1,500 airborne soldiers who were rushed to Iraq for a four-month stint.

"I think we'll be able to come down to the level that was projected before this election," Wolfowitz said.