Pentagon to alert 8 Guard units for duty (Iraq, Afghanistan)

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is preparing to alert eight National Guard units that they should be ready to go to Iraq or Afghanistan beginning late next summer, The Associated Press learned Wednesday.

The U.S. military is reaching out to more Guard units in an effort to maintain needed troop levels, ease some of the strain on the active duty Army and provide security for ports, convoys and other installations.

According to defense officials, seven of the units would deploy to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the orders had not yet been signed and the announcement is not expected until the end of this week.

Two of the units will be full combat brigades heading to Iraq — between next summer and into 2009, to serve as part of the rotation with active duty troops. There are currently 20 combat brigades in Iraq, but under plans mapped out by President Bush and his top commanders, that number will gradually drop to 15 next year, as the U.S. reduces its troop presence there.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071017/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/national_guard_iraq

[CTuttle]

1. Stop This Madness Now!!!

Defund the travesty now! My old unit is set to go again...!!!:wtf:

[Barrett808]

2. Welcome to DU, CTuttle!

:hi:

[CTuttle]

3. Mahalo!

I appreciate the welcome! I'm a long time commenter at FDL, but, I decided to expand...!!! ;-)

[rodeodance]

4. North Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois and Hawaii,

Specific brigades were not identified, but they will include units from North Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois and Hawaii, according to officials. Some of those being alerted this week have done tours in the war zone already, and others would be going for the first time.

[CTuttle]

5. Hawaii has only one NG Brigade...

In the article they mentioned they want intact brigades, hence, Aloha Oe to my former comrades-in-arms...!!!:-(

[Supersedeas]

10. Gen. Sanchez's unending nightmare continues....for the troops and their families too

[lovuian]

6. is this the Bush Surge again??? Seems like tough guy Bush

can sure give out those orders and then he goes and sits on his butt making tougher on his soldiers

I think Bush looks more and more like Romes Nero all he needs is a fiddle

[Akoto]

7. Pentagon to Alert 8 Guard Units for Duty

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon is preparing to alert eight National Guard units that they should be ready to go to Iraq or Afghanistan beginning late next summer, The Associated Press learned Wednesday.

The U.S. military is reaching out to more Guard units in an effort to maintain needed troop levels, ease some of the strain on the active duty Army and provide security for ports, convoys and other installations.

According to defense officials, seven of the units would deploy to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the orders had not yet been signed and the announcement is not expected until the end of this week.

Two of the units will be full combat brigades heading to Iraq - between next summer and into 2009, to serve as part of the rotation with active duty troops. There are currently 20 combat brigades in Iraq, but under plans mapped out by President Bush and his top commanders, that number will gradually drop to 15 next year, as the U.S. reduces its troop presence there.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NATIONAL_GUARD_IRAQ?SITE=CAGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[MADem]

8. Are they replacing Blackwater, or what?

I think it's astounding that they have more civilians in Iraq than servicemembers...

[woodsprite]

9. My thought this morning after his stupid comments yesterday

is that they're trying to get them out of the country until after Jan 2009. It said the NJ unit wasn't supposed to ship out until 2010, but orders got changed.

[saigon68]

11. Kick

[harun]

12. National Guard, as in guard the nation of the UNITED STATES

Not other countries. I can't believe they get away with this nonsense.

[Massachusetts]

13. More Troops for the Meat Grinder!

FUBAR!!!!!!!!!!and WE CAN"T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!