Massive US changing of the guard

[Tinoire]

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is preparing to rotate a quarter of a million troops into and out of Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan early next year in a massive and risky undertaking that could leave them highly vulnerable to attacks during the changeover.

The plan, which will replace virtually all of the United States' current forces with new fighters, calls for substituting about 118,000 fresh troops for 130,000 outgoing troops in Iraq alone.

The vast movement of forces from January to May is described by the military itself as unprecedented in scope and risk. Not even during World War II were so many troops with their helicopters, planes, ships and combat equipment transported into and out of a combat zone in such a short time.

The massive rotation worries top military officials, who have choreographed the five-month changeover down to the smallest details.

<snip>

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,224687,00.html

[Maple]

1. So they announce this to the world?

Clever thinking. :think:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. Can you say...

..."Pearl Harbor", or "9/11"?

Sounds like a perfect opportunity for "someone" to launch an attack so that martial law can be declared and elections suspended, don't you think?

[Tinoire]

6. Don't even say that

A few years ago when I was fascinated with Catholic prophecy, that was what was foretold for the US. I have since lost the print-out (from the net) and I am furious about it because everything everything that's been happening these last 8 years has been almost as if on script. I don't remember the election detail though...

[aquart]

2. Leaving no vets on the ground to teach the newbies.

Golleee! Ain't they clever.

[Journeyman]

3. I wonder how many "transport tubes". . .

are included in those choreographed smallest details.

[AndyTiedye]

5. Could It Be More Than That?

Supposing they send the fresh troops in,
but don't let the others come home.
Might they be tempted to go after Syria or Iran?

[JM]

7. I agree, but...

...not on another front. I think there is something else to this if Al-Qaeda starts moving large numbers of fighters into Iraq as they have stated...

If we can't fight them in Pakistan, let them move to a place where we can.

Later,
JM

[BeFree]

13. Agree with both of you...

One, that with 200,000 troops in Iraq, a Syrian invasion is quite possible. That's why they are advertising this...they know the enemy will notice the troop movements, so they say "It's just a rotation"

Two, there may be more to the 'Bring 'em on' statement. It could very well be that the WOT planning is trying to get the enemy to group up in one place. The problem with that is there is no way we will win a guerilla war, and that's what our troops will be facing.

I get this bad feeling that the * people figure it's time for all or nothing. Either the PNAC plan advances before the election or it never will advance. That this my be their last chance for a long time.

[Don_G]

8. It Will Be Interesting

To have all the Vets returned to the US and have "their" stories start leaking to their families and the media. I don't think Rove will be fully prepared to counter the truth when it starts leaking out.

[Cooley Hurd]

9. Public perception/support of the war will go south quickly...

...all in time for the election. Yesterday on CNN, they read letters from troops regarding to the US's refusal to award rebuilding contracts to countires opposed to the war. They were overwhelmingly critical of the policy because the troops know, better than anybody, that we need help in Iraq. The troops know, better than anyone, that the war is a failure and when they get home, I'm sure they'll be quite vocal about it.

Like I said, all in time for the election...

[rustydog]

10. Buying votes in this manner could cost thousands of lives

of the troops left behind.
This is only an election-year stunt by Bush to get his ratings numbers up.

[MetaTrope]

11. Word-of-mouth, anecdotal, second-hand

But I was talking yesterday with somebody who recently took a flight seated next to a guardsman who was on his way to a posting in Iraq. He told her that the number of military going AWOL right now and failing to report for duty is staggering, unprecedented in American military history. All I've got is this bit of gossip though...I'm not sure who he was that he would be privy to this information. Has there been any statistical reporting on this by the media?

[Zero Gravitas]

12. Votes

They are trying to shore up the military vote. They are shameless scum.

[stopbush]

14. Ah, a perfect opportunity to request Billion$ more in Iraq aid.

"The troops are in danger...must be protected...need Star Wars, now...question us and you're unAmerican..."

[young_at_heart]

15. War neverending

Evidently Republicans really like war!