Flights Home for Troops Canceled

[Barrett808]

Any American family thinking their soldier is coming home soon from Iraq may be in for a nasty surprise.

All flights out of there for troops at the end of their deployment are canceled, while the military tries to figure out how to make Baghdad safe.

President Bush had said earlier this week that soldiers in other parts of Iraq would go to the capital.

Defense officials say commanders are working out the details of a plan to move as many as five-thousand soldiers with tanks and armored vehicles.

They'd team up with Iraqi police and army units, turning every Baghdad operation into a joint effort.

America now has about 130,000 troops in Iraq, with 30,000 in the capital.

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/3444321.html

[babylonsister]

1. God, does that ever stink. I imagine the admin won't be winning

over any hearts and minds of Americans affected by this, soldiers and families alike.

[roguevalley]

38. I think this is about shoring up what they do hold. The strykers

are going into really bad places and I doubt very much if an offensive is in the works. The 172nd was due to come home next week. I doubt that they are going to do more than hold what they have and try and suppress local violence.

[RCinBrooklyn]

2. Are they flying Southwest again? n/t

[benburch]

3. Baghdad can never be made safe.

And concentrating our troops there ensures that something like Beirut will happen eventually.

[Up2Late]

47. Have you seen the Lies the RNC is using this year? My ReThug Rep...

...sent out a major piece of BS Campaign material yesterday. I was just going to trash it, but decided to keep it and maybe scan it if I can't find it on-line.

It has maps of Iraq and Baghdad, comparing the number of areas where the troop are "Iraqi Lead" by Iraqi troop and Police.

Here are some of the "numbers" he has in this fine piece of Fiction:

"Iraq Security Forces Taking Lead
Responsibility for Security"

Jan 05:

Divisions : 0
Brigades : 0
Battalions : 0

May 06:

Divisions : 2
Brigades : 16
Battalions : 63

This comes with two little maps that look like an oddly shaped map of Rhode Island.

[Jim__]

4. That sucks.

And yet, everything I read says the military supports repubs. Why?

[Laurab]

33. Everything I've read says the opposite

AND, I don't believe they ever actually released the results of the military vote in the pResidential election. Had it been pro-bush, it would have been released, and we would have heard it over and over.

People I know in the military say no one they know supports him...most of them are just doing what they consider their jobs, and can't wait to get the hell out of Iraq.

[Pokey Anderson]

60. Jim Hightower's Lowdown newsletter says the troop support

for the war in Iraq is quite low.

[Javaman]

5. Something really scary is building. nt

[IndianaGreen]

8. With all the troops going to Baghdad, that leaves an opening elsewhere

this war was lost a long time ago.

[martymar64]

11. Kinda like Whack-a-mole, innit?

n/t

[catmandu57]

13. It sure is

fight us in the cities lose the country, fight us in the country lose the cities, protect the oil supply lose the cities, it's a lose/lose proposition everywhere you look and more people are smelling the stink everyday.

[truth2power]

21. DUer Boo Boo posted this a couple days ago..

(I hope it's ok to Xpost this with attribution). I think it's perceptive.

"Iraq central to WOT, Baghdad central to Iraq, Green Zone central to Baghdad, embassy central to Green Zone... followed by sound of helicopter leaving)." Sounds about right to me.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2418203&mesg_id=2418263

[Divernan]

41. Could well be - US certainly wouldn't announce beforehand they're leaving

It fits into the range of irresponsible acts Bush likes to take and then ex post facto announce them as though positive, brilliant moves. I say "irresponsible" not because I oppose getting the hell out of Iraq; but because it will leave total chaos behind. No good solutions out there now - and Bush et all are incapable of statesmanship and negotiating reasonably with any foreign powers. The only foreign support Bush enjoys has been bought and paid for by US tax dollars.

[Kikosexy2]

44. Love your ...

Cheshire Cat...anyhoo, what a terrible of waste of our young ones...nothing but cannon fodder for their war follies...absolutely disgusting...would not be surprised if some or most decide to go awol and sneak off to some other country...to hell with these wars....

[babylonsister]

10. Maliki says jump, we say how high? nt

[maxrandb]

23. It does appear to be getting a little "drafty" in here. n/t

[arcane1]

34. scary like mid-term elections?

can't have those soldiers coming home and voting Dem, can we?

They'll vote absentee, and of course every vote will be counted

NOT!!!!!

[hang a left]

48. Thats how I feel too. Such scary times.

[atreides1]

6. Another great Morale builder

Provided by the Bush Administration.

Wonder how the D side of the aisle will respond to this?

[IndianaGreen]

7. This sucks!

I think they fear an Iraq version of the Tet Offensive, one in which the Green Zone itself will be the target.

[AndyA]

9. I agree that something is about to happen, I suspect it will involve Iran.

I don't believe all the reports about the military supporting Bush. I've had too many people with relatives who've fought over there report that morale is quite low, and many troops have no respect for Bush. Just look at the photo ops of the troops with Bush. Do the troops look thrilled to be posing with the nut in the White House? Do they look happy to meet him?

Contrast that with photos of Clinton, and you get the truth pretty fast. Bush is not respected, nor is he welcomed.

He's a parasite, like diarrhea, and few are happy to see him arrive.

[ManWroteTheBible]

31. they're all parasites...

every last Republican!
Q: What is the sole purpose of a parasite?
A: To destroy all organisms that are not the parasite.
Sounds like the Repubicans to me

[Straight Shooter]

32. Welcome to DU, ManWroteTheBible.

I like your screen name.

:hi:

[Javaman]

12. There is something else in the works...

All flights and leaves canceled. Troops being herded into Baghdad.

Israel doesn't want UN help.

US keeps it hands off trying to broker peace.

Iran now supplying Hisbollha.

Baghdad is close to the Iranian border but not too close. A great staging area.

Someone is waiting for someone to flinch.

Israel and the US are just waiting for an excuse to attack Iran.

That's what all this bullshit is about.

The guns of August reduex.

[mikeytherat]

15. My bro-in-law's deployment was moved up two months

He's been working every day for the past two years - he got eight days off and was deployed back to Iraq.

Something is definitely up.

mikey_the_rat

[aquart]

53. Uh huh, and then what?

Israel leaves Israel undefended to mount a campaign against 60 million annoyed people? The United States attacks with a disgusted, demoralized, and played-out army?

Sure. That'll work.

[Barrett808]

14. Joseph Galloway: Robbing Peter to pay Paul in Iraq

Joseph Galloway: Robbing Peter to pay Paul in Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=225309&mesg_id=225309

[peacebird]

16. and the Shi'ites in Iraq REJECT the use of more American troops

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2419700


Thought we were there at the request od the Iraqi's?

"NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) - One of Iraq's most influential Shiite leaders have rejected the use of US forces to stabilize Iraq's security situation, as the Pentagon announced an increase in troops numbers.

Abdel Aziz Hakim told a rally Friday in the holy city of Najaf that Iraqis should handle their own security, despite the mounting death toll in Baghdad, which is in the grip of a dirty war between rival Sunni and Shiite death squads."

[arcane1]

35. I can't imagine ANYONE in Najaf welcoming US troops

we fucked them over good

[Megahurtz]

17. It's obvious they're planning something.

Shit!:scared:

[lpbk2713]

18. But ... but ... what about MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

I was sure we were told by our preznint that everything is just fine over there. :eyes:

[LuckyLib]

51. Every time I see the casket photos, I remember that we're not

supposed to see casket photos. Our fascist government says so.

[oasis]

63. Mission Accomplished. Powerful pic. (n/t)

[MGKrebs]

19. They're still working out the details?

That to me sounds like Commander Bunnypants directed this maneuver and the Generals are having to scramble to accomodate him, rather than the other way around where the military guys come up with a plan and the CIC signs off, in which case they would have already "worked out the details" before they even showed it to him.

[CountAllVotes]

20. no surprise

No one and I mean NO ONE wants to enlist in the military and serve in a toxic war without end that will leave them likely messed up in some way for life (physically/emotionally, etc.)

I'm sure those that thought they were on their way home are really bummed out. Just watch, I bet the rate of suicides will climb even further now.

Seems no one likes the military these days, especially those serving in it I suspect.

I truly feel sorry for those that have been "extended" so to speak.

:(

[superconnected]

42. actually they're still enlisting like crazy

we're supposed to pretend that they didn't know they could get sent to iraq and fight a war though...

Sorry, I'm getting kind of sick of the soldiers funerals from kids who enlisted this year.

It's doubly sad that they really ARE kids. Let alone that they made their dumbest mistake of their lives by enlisting at this time, and it killed them.

[Joey Liberal]

49. The Army will take anyone right now

The Army has lowered the mental standards, increased the age limit for new recruits to 42 year olds, pays out huge enlistment bonuses, and has made basic training less stressful. They are doing all they can to attract new cannon fodder.

[uppityperson]

22. my condolences to the military,their family and friends. Helicopters

I hope they have enough helicopters to get people out when the GZ falls.

[Carla in Ca]

64. A few days ago, someone here predicted the

green zone would fall within 4 weeks. I can't figure out if this mass deployment to Baghdad is protect it or if it is for something else. Either way, I am getting a chill up my spine.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

24. hey, what of the 70,000 army we sent thru there?

we were told that was a HUGE success?
Why isn't the media reporting on that good news?

[warrens]

25. Sounding more like Vietnam every day

Back when they had the draft, they just called up more troops, none of whom were happy to go. Virtually the entire fighting force in Nam wanted to be home, with the exception of the rah-rah morons, many of whom found themselves cuddling up to a hand grenade while asleep in their tents.

The guys here are volunteers, but I imagine they're not much happier than the slaves in Nam. I think the grumbling is about to become a LOT louder. Now is the time to ramp up the care packages, making it clear that you wish they were home and out of this senseless, evil war.

[krkaufman]

26. Bush not happy with recent press, so time to throw bodies at Baghdad. n/t

[hootinholler]

27. "They'd team up with Iraqi..."

They'd team up with Iraqi police and army units, turning every Baghdad operation into a joint effort.


Because that has worked soooo well up to now. Haven't there been reports of sleepers and sabotuers in the Iraqi forces?

-Hoot

[UrbScotty]

28. So much for Republicans "supporting the troops" (nt)

[Ezlivin]

29. Were all the soldiers on the "Do Not Fly" list?

That sounds about right.

After all, they were armed and coming from the Middle East.

[NastyDiaper]

30. UnRepuglingBelievable

Chickenhawk in chief continues to stomp his little green army men into the sand.

All the while 37 senators could care less Bush is breaking the law as he keeps stomping.

the rubber stamp congress keeps on stamping. Wheeeeeeee.

[alarimer]

36. This does not sound good

It sounds like they are preparing to escalate the war- maybe for the Iran invasion???

[The_Casual_Observer]

37. Another defining moment in the Iraq war.

It's clear that they have no plan, and don't have a big enough army.

[Botany]

46. they had a plans ..... bad ones

Rummy "I don't know what you would do with all those troops." to congress '03 on why not 250,000
to 350,000 as per the generals

Bush 03 "Major combat operations are over."

Richard Pearle 03 "I see a statue of George Bush in Baghdad."

Dick Cheney Feb 06 "Nobody could have for seen the level of violence among the insurgents."

Chalibi 03 "You will be welcomed with rose petals & sweets."


If there is a God and we can get a clean vote these bastards should be swept from office. After 9/11
that was done by Saudis (2 UAE, 1 Kuwaiti, 1 Egyptian), who followed Whabbi Islam (radical islam paid
for by the House of Saud), and financed by the UAE we invade a country that had nothing to do with it (9/11)
and we get bogged down in this mess ...... And The_Casual_Observer says we had no plans? Why do
you hate America?

[Kire]

39. The mind reels

:wtf:

[DoYouEverWonder]

40. Boy, there's a morale boaster

August in Iraq - that must be a blast.

[Botany]

43. Re post of great piece from the Washington Post .... our troops are fucked

"Waiting to get blown up." American soldier in Iraq


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20... ?

BAGHDAD, July 26 Army Staff Sgt. Jose Sixtos considered the simple question about morale for more than an hour. But not until his convoy of armored Humvees had finally rumbled back into the Baghdad military base, and the soldiers emptied the ammunition from their machine guns, and passed off the bomb-detecting robot to another patrol, did he turn around in his seat and give his answer.

"Think of what you hate most about your job. Then think of doing what you hate most for five straight hours, every single day, sometimes twice a day, in 120-degree heat," he said. "Then ask how morale is."

Frustrated? "You have no idea," he said.

snip

"It sucks. Honestly, it just feels like we're driving around waiting to get blown up. That's the most honest answer I could give you," said Spec. Tim Ivey, 28, of San Antonio, a muscular former backup fullback for Baylor University. "You lose a couple friends and it gets hard."

[Up2Late]

45. What, doesn't KKTV watch the NEWS? here's the full story from the...

..."Liberal Press"

US says no plans to boost troops further in Iraq

By Will Dunham
Reuters
Friday, July 28, 2006; 3:55 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Persistent violence in Iraq is forcing the United States to boost troop levels there, but Pentagon officials said on Friday there are no plans now to extend the tours of more troops beyond 3,500 already notified.

The U.S. force in Iraq has reached 132,000 troops, a gain of roughly 5,000 this week after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld extended the year-old tour of the Alaska-based 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team by up to four months. The move was the latest evidence that administration officials' hopes for significant cuts in the size of the U.S. force are unlikely to be realized in the coming months.

Because the brigade's replacement unit already has arrived, delaying the 172nd's departure increases the size of the overall U.S. force. Several times in this war, the Pentagon has extended tours of units to create a temporary troop increase to address immediate security concerns.

"There's no move at this point to extend anyone else," said a senior Army official.

(more at link) <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/28/AR2006072801069.html>

[daleo]

50. Man, that's got to hurt.

That's got to kill morale.

[Phrogman]

52. What morale?

That must of gone away months ago.

[daleo]

56. You've got a point

I should have said "what little morale was left".

[Voltaire99]

54. Let this be another lesson to future "volunteers"...

Sign up for the imperial war machine, and just see how it treats you.

Looking ahead--if ever we get out of this war!--the Iraq debacle may have the salutary effect of starving the imperial war machine of more canon fodder. Because who in their right mind would sign up for this shit?

Alas, no political party plans to ease the economic suffering that has provided a steady stream of "volunteer" bodies for the military. One more reason we need a third party.

[WestSeattle2]

55. But Cheney told us on May 31, 2005 that.......

the insurgency was in its last throes. Exactly how long is a throe? 10 years?

[Rageneau]

57. HOO-AH! More chance for our boys to kick butt!

Remember the days in the run-up to the war? Our cheering troops couldn't have been more agressive and more anxious to take the fight to the bad guys. couldn't wait for the killing to start.

So since that's what they wanted, they ought to love this news that their brave commander-in-chief is making it possible for them to kick even more butt for even longer. HOO-AH!

[Az_lefty]

58. This happened to us when we were in Iraq in 03...

talk about some pissed off soldiers!
:grr:

[emald]

59. up here in alaska

the local news has reported on the great "dissapointment" of the families of these Alaska based infantrymen who can now look forward to many extra months, if not more, in *ushits hell. If they get back here by the first of the year they will have a frightfull change of temperature to deal with. Just a thought.

[bling bling]

61. No rest for the troops. Meanwhile, Bush rewards himself with

another nice long August vacation. What the hell else is new.

[madrchsod]

62. the emerald city will be the last stand

for the american army.

[opihimoimoi]

65. Oh My...FORT BAHGDAD...The Last Stand? Backed into a circle

The Bushites gather their forces to defend the City from the Insurgents.

Exactly what the enemy wants...

[lebkuchen]

66. The majority of Canadians want out of Afghanistan right now

and they are very angry at PM Harper and his support of Israel's actions against Lebanon. (So are Australians with Howard.)

The US can probably count Canada out of all future self-created dramas. After the demise of the "Coalition of the Willing," the US and Israel will likely be going it all alone.

It's a bad time to be in the military. Anyone joining the army and marines right now is either dirt poor or not too bright.