Army Diverts Unit From Fallujah to Mosul

The Associated Press reports that an infantry battalion was diverted from the fighting in Fallujah and sent them back to Mosul to help put down the insurgency there:

The 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 25th Infantry Division, was ordered back to Mosul late Thursday after militants attacked bridges, police stations and government buildings in the city, officials said.

Forcing the U.S. to divert forces from the battle for Fallujah is an obvious goal of the insurgent's attacks in Mosul. That the insurgents were successful in this effort is additional evidence that there is a shortage of combat troops in Iraq.

Comments

[Ric Curtis]

I don't think they would have been sent if they were needed in Fallujah. There is an advantage and a disadvantage to having a lot of troops, more firepower and more targets.