Pentagon Puts On Green Beret

Pentagon Puts On Green Beret

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2006
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Fast Fact

The plan calls for an increase in special operations forces by 15 percent, including the establishment of the first Marine Corps commando unit.
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(AP) The Pentagon announced plans Friday to increase special operations forces, expand psychological warfare and develop a program to fight biological terrorism as part of a military strategy for the 21st century.

The plan comes three days before President Bush sends Congress a 2007 budget that seeks a nearly 5 percent increase in Defense Department spending to $439.3 billion, with significantly more for weapons programs, according to senior Pentagon officials and documents obtained by The Associated Press.

While the long-range plan released Friday does much to reshape the military to respond to terrorism threats, it also emphasizes continued U.S. dominance for conventional warfare.