Pentagon Halts Troop Rotation For Iraq "Indefinitely"

[bigtree]

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is delaying indefinitely the deployment of an Army combat brigade that was to start heading to Iraq this month as part of a long-planned troop rotation, defense officials said.

The decision — not yet publicly announced — to keep the 3,500 soldiers of the 2nd brigade of the 1st Infantry Division at their home base in Germany may mean a net reduction in the size of the force in Iraq, although that has yet to be determined.

There are now about 132,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

Top U.S. commanders and officials have said they expect the U.S. military presence in Iraq to shrink over the course of this year. But whether this single move with the 1st Infantry unit would result in an overall reduction is not certain because other decisions about 2006 deployments are pending. Those other decisions hinge on evolving political and military conditions in Iraq.

article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060506/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_us_military

[pocoloco]

1. What's the weather like in

Iran this time of year????

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. This doesn't make sense

unless they are planning to redeploy them somewhere.

You don't reduce troops in country, by not sending replacements for the troops that are on their 2nd and 3rd rotation.

[HereSince1628]

7. My first thought was redirecting them...this is one curiosity that will

work itself out in short order more than likely. I can think of 3 places they could be deployed but there is no point in speculating.

[tabasco]

3. Probably combat ineffective.

Due to a lack of replacements, unserviceable equipment, and low morale, this unit is probably unfit to be deployed.

But they will be back in the quagmire after a short delay, IMO.

[0007]

4. There are now about 132,000 U.S. troops in Iraq? Not Counting

the 15,400 mercenaries, 'eh?

[rocktivity]

5. A net reduction in Iraq--or the beginnings of a deployment to Iran?

:headbang:
rocknation

[converted_democrat]

8. That's what I'd bet, if I were a betting women.. n/t

[rodeodance]

6. This is good. I only hope it lasts.

[MercutioATC]

9. Wooohooo! My cousin's brigade!

He's already done one tour in Iraq and was supposed to leave this month for another. Looks like it's being delayed!

***fingers crossed***