Change of strategy in Iraq

MICHAEL R. GORDON; The New York Times

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military, in a major revision of strategy, has decided to limit the scope of its raids after receiving warnings from Iraqi leaders that they were alienating the public, the top allied commander said Wednesday.

In its search for Baath Party operatives and other foes, the U.S. military has carried out large sweeps, some of which have rounded up hundreds of Iraqis.

But Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the chief commander of allied forces in Iraq, said the military had virtually exhausted the gains from this approach and that continuing it could be counterproductive.