The first U.S. military unit scheduled to withdraw from Iraq under the Bush administration's plan to reduce troop levels has left the war zone, a military spokeswoman said Friday. "The entire MEU is back aboard the Bonhomme Richard Strike Group on our way home," said Capt. Pamela Marshall.A brigade combat team, which normally includes about 4,000 troops, is expected to leave Iraq in mid-December followed by four other brigade combat teams and two Marine battalions.
The U.S. force now totals about 165,000 in Iraq.