Its existing policy, which bans openly gay troop members and leaders, came under fire last year after Jennifer Tyrrell, an Ohio den leader, was dismissed by her local Boy Scout troop for being a lesbian.
CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS
2.
The successes of the U.S. military troop increase, a cease-fire by al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia that began last summer and the growth of pro-U.S. Sunni groups called the Sons of Iraq and Awakening Councils had been among the reasons cited for the drop.
CNN: Iraqi deaths spike in March
3.
In 1940, the troop ship Lancastria was sunk by enemy fire after having taken on board British troops who were evacuating from France.