A NEW APPROACH

U.S. commanders on Monday outlined new plans for patrolling the streets of Baghdad and said their No. 1 goal is to be less conspicuous.

The Army is closing down most of its bases in central Baghdad, withdrawing to the outskirts of the city, exchanging tanks for Humvees and using fewer soldiers, said Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, the 1st Armored Division's deputy commander. This comes as the 1st Armored prepares to hand authority for the Iraqi capital to the 1st Cavalry Division, part of a larger replenishing of occupation troops throughout the country.

"We're going to be less intrusive," said Col. Mike Formica of the 1st Calvary. "We won't have 70-ton tanks running through neighborhoods, destroying infrastructure we're trying so hard to rebuild."