AS CLOSE TO CERTAIN AS IS POSSIBLE
Secretary Rumsfeld says other troops identified to replace 1AD if necessary at the end of the 90 days.

Asked at a Pentagon news briefing if the Defense Department was already considering the deployment of additional troops to Iraq, Rumsfeld replied: "Are we considering it? No. But have we prepared? You bet."

Rumsfeld said the Pentagon had identified fresh U.S. forces to eventually replace the 20,000 troops whose tours in Iraq were extended until July to counter insurgencies in Sunni areas west of Baghdad and Shiite areas to the south. He also said plans were being drafted should Gen. John Abizaid, the commander for the Middle East, require even more troops beyond the 135,000 there now.

"We have made arrangements that in the event General Abizaid feels that that higher number of 135,000 instead of 115,000 troops in country are needed, we've made arrangements to have them replaced, the 20,000 replaced by other forces," Rumsfeld said.