U.S. Army weighs more combat units for Iraq: report

[jefferson_dem]

U.S. Army weighs more combat units for Iraq: report Mon Sep 25, 1:19 AM ET

The U.S. Army is considering whether to add more combat units to the rotation plan to meet a top commander's decision to keep more than 140,000 troops in the country until at least mid-2007, The Washington Times reported on Monday.

The Army also is considering accelerating the deployments for some brigades in a move to try to stop sectarian violence among Sunnis and Shi'ites in Baghdad, the newspaper reported, citing Pentagon officials.

"It may accelerate the pace of deployments or it may mean looking at calling up additional units," a Pentagon official who asked not to be named told the newspaper.

Army Gen. John Abizaid, head of U.S. Central Command oversees the war, said last week that the United States is unlikely to begin cutting its forces in Iraq before the middle of next year.

He said the United States might even increase the size of its force from the current 147,000.

<SNIP>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060925/pl_nm/iraq_usa_troops_dc;_ylt=Ar8wvvEGqQfK03INz28TBrJZ.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[bronxiteforever]

1. Just another fact in the endless mountain of facts

that this has been a disaster. 52 year old soldier died in Afghanistan the other day. The army is now hollow. Like a Rethug's soul.

[acmavm]

2. The military needs to go over to the website that shalt not be

named and get some of them gung-ho 'wanna kill me some raghead' keyboard killers.

[modrepub]

3. BBC Reported

last week that of the 140,000+ US troops only about 18,000 are combat troops (the ones who do the patrols). I have no idea if this is correct but I can't see how 150,000 or so troops hope to quell the millions of Iraqis.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. Another rovian tactic destroyed. He really wanted gwb to be able to

trumpet a reduction in the number of troops in Iraq, right before the midterms.

Oh well, he still gets to sleep on his fine linen sheets each night as our troops and the Iraqis try to survive the hell on earth that the cabal has created.

fugwb. MKJ

[dmosh42]

5. Will they bring up the draft?

It wouldn't be a surprise to see that on the table after election day.

[OKNancy]

6. kick

[Barrett808]

7. US Army looks for ways to send more troops to Iraq

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Army and Marine Corps are looking for ways to send more combat units into the Iraq rotation pool and are considering accelerating the pace of deployments for some brigades in order to keep more than 140,000 troops in the country through at least the spring of 2007.

Citing unnamed Pentagon officials, the Washington Times reported that instead of planning to draw down 30,000 soldiers and Marines this year, the two services are now trying to figure out how to keep the equivalent of two extra divisions, or 40,000 troops, in Iraq.

Currently, Army units deploy for about a year, then spend one year at their home base before going back to Iraq or Afghanistan. Under these rules, the number of troops was to drop to 100,000 by next year.

The report said the Army has met a request by Central Command head General John Abizaid for more forces in the rotation pool by delaying the departure of a Stryker armored vehicle brigade to Alaska and by calling in a fast-reaction brigade combat team from Kuwait.

But a longer-term solution may require the Army to look at adding more units to the rotation mix, according to The Times.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060925/pl_afp/usiraqmilitarytroops

[Nickster]

8. I bet a draft could add a whole bunch of new faces into the military.

Problem solved!

[ShortnFiery]

9. If they want more troops they best recruit "the twins" and "Cheney's kids"

otherwise we are going to have a cannon fodder crisis.

Heaven forbid we start a draft after the election so Rummy can have our beloved children "sucked into the intake" of The Military Industrial Complex's WAR MACHINE. :grr:

[rodeodance]

10. I fear for these troops and their families.

[rodeodance]

11. AFP Talabani asks for long-term US military presence in Iraq

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060925/ts_alt_afp/usiraqmilitarybases_060925132144;_ylt=AlO54d6SE_ixnZnuUbt_Tacb.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA2ZGZwam4yBHNlYwNmYw--
Talabani asks for long-term US military presence in Iraq

by Maxim Kniazkov 53 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani asked for a long-term US military presence in
Iraq, in an interview, saying his country will need two permanent US air bases to deter "foreign interference".


He did not elaborate on the nature of the threat, but his remarks contained an indication he had in mind neighboring
Iran.

"I think we will be in need of American forces for a long time -- even two military bases to prevent foreign interference," Talabani told The Washington Post. "I don't ask to have 100,000 American soldiers -- 10,000 soldiers and two air bases would be enough."

The president, a Kurd, made clear the bases would be most welcome in Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq that has practiced de facto self-government since the 1991
Gulf War.

But he suggested that the Sunni Arab segment of the Iraqi population would also be receptive of the idea.

[rodeodance]

12. 'an additional 20,000 to 30,000 US troops to Iraq (McCain wants)

.....US Central Command head General John Abizaid told reporters last week any previous plans to draw down US troops in Iraq had been put off until at least next spring, and the force level might even go up.

Echoing his concern, US Senator John McCain, a powerful member of the
Senate Armed Services Committee, suggested Sunday sending an additional 20,000 to 30,000 US troops to Iraq due to spreading violence.

Several congressional leaders have in the past raised the possibility of the United States acquiring long-term basing rights in Iraq, but so far the administration of
President George W. Bush has not announced any concrete steps in this direction.

Talabani met with Bush last week.