Chance of a Short Trip Home for Soldiers on Yearlong Tour

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 — The commander of the 101st Airborne Division, which is on patrol in northern Iraq, has proposed an unusual holiday that would allow his troops to visit home once in their lengthy tours of duty.

In a letter to families of the division's troops, the commander, Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, wrote of his efforts to fly the soldiers back to the United States for up to two weeks of leave after they are midway through a 12-month deployment.

But he warned of obstacles, in cost and security — including the risk of a plane full of homewardbound soldiers being shot down over Iraq.

"While I don't want to get hopes up too high, I should mention that we are also working on a midtour leave program," General Petraeus wrote. "This will not be easy — especially as the residual air defense threat (there have been several surface-to-air missile launches to the south of our area) has prevented the resumption of civilian passenger flights into Iraq so far. And it will be very expensive for our Army."

more…
http://nytimes.com/2003/08/11/politics/11AIRB.html

[harper]

1. R and R

Years ago, when my dad was in Vietnam, the soldiers had a chance to take R and R in Hawaii. I remember Mom flying over there to meet him for a week or two. I guess the Pentagon is thinking of resurecting a similar program.

[LosinIt]

5. My dad used to refer to that as "I and I"

Intoxication and Intercourse. He was in Korea.

[Guaranteed]

2. Well, good...

Can't imagine any of them would want to go back though

[Pert_UK]

3. "And it will be very expensive for our Army."

More expensive than giving tax cuts to big business? More expensive than starting the f*cking war in the first place? More expensive than delaying an aircraft carrier and flying aboard it for a staged press-event?

Consider how much Bush's "presidency" has cost financially, and work out how much of that it would cost to bring some soldiers home and give them a break from the threat of death for a couple of weeks.

P.

[hadrons]

4. althought taking a 2 week vacation knowing that you have to go back to ...

Bush's hell-hole for another 6 months can be very disstressing thought

[catmandu57]

6. Which makes me wonder

How many would take the path of our most glorious comander in chimp* and run as far and fast as they could.