posted
as if the troops didnt have enough to deal with...now this? oh man just watch the retention numbers drop like dead flies now....this is horrible on morale
Gates announces longer tours in Iraq By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer 27 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Beginning immediately, all active-duty Army soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan will serve 15-month tours — three months longer than the usual standard, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday.
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It was the latest move by the Pentagon to cope with the strains of fighting two wars simultaneously and maintaining a higher troop level in Iraq as part of President Bush's revised strategy for stabilizing Baghdad.
"This policy is a difficult but necessary interim step," Gates told a Pentagon news conference, adding that the goal is to eventually return to 12 months as the standard length of tour in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He said the new policy does not affect the other main components of the U.S. ground force in Iraq: the Marines, whose standard tour is seven months, or the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, which will continue to serve 12-month tours.
Gates acknowledged that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are making life difficult for many in the military.
"Our forces are stretched, there's no question about that," Gates said.
He said the new policy also seeks to ensure that all active-duty Army units get at least 12 months at home between deployments. He said it would allow the Pentagon to maintain the current level of troops in Iraq for another year, although he added that there has been no decision on future troop levels.
Without changing the standard tour length to 15 months, the Army would have been forced to send five brigades to Iraq before they completed 12 months at home, Gates said.
Some units' tours in Iraq had already been extended beyond 12 months by varying amounts. The new policy will make deployments more equitable and more predictable for soldiers and for their families, Gates said.
"I think it is fair to all soldiers that all share the burden equally," he said.
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
i saw that too CCM.. the Governor of Ohio seems pissed too:
Gov. Strickland Sends Letter To President Bush Apr 10 2007 12:13PM
Columbus, OH Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today sent the following letter to President George W. Bush:
April 10, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
I write to you today in concern for the continued and unprecedented sacrifice our men and women in the Ohio National Guard bear in relation to the ongoing conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.
Yesterday, the Department of Defense announced an alert order for the possible deployment of additional replacement units in support of the war in Iraq. Four National Guard brigade combat teams, including the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Ohio, could be deployed as soon as December 2007.
As you are aware, the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was originally in line for possible mobilization in 2009. The timeframe has been moved up dramatically. This is a significant departure from the commitment made to Ohio soldiers and their families, and I believe it is a breach of faith.
While this alert purportedly is not associated to the current surge, I remain troubled by the significant burden Ohioans continue to shoulder during the recent conflicts, with over 9,000 Ohio soldiers deployed since 9 / 11.
The brave men and women who serve in the Ohio National Guard are putting their lives on the line. I am asking for your assurance that prior to deployment, every
Ohio soldier has the most up-to-date equipment, including individual body armor systems, M-4 rifles and other weapons systems, night vision devices, and up-armored type wheeled vehicles. I am also asking for your assurance that every Ohio soldier has appropriate training.
Our soldiers and their families deserve nothing less. On behalf of the men and women in the Ohio National Guard, I look forward to your response and assurances.
osambinalivetoolong wants to engage the US troops in a long drawn out "war" to weaken our finances and our resolve, and Bush is too stupid to realise that he is dancing to the pipers tune....
some other strategy needs to be put in place right away...
Bush is planning on blaming the democrats for his mistakes...
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Yeah, I have a sneaking suspicion that my brigade is one of those that may be going in Dec. It's fitting, just get promoted into the engineer program at work; currently in week two of my initial 3 weeks here in Kansas, with 15 more weeks back in Seattle running trains then back to Kansas for final tests and simulator runs. Anything less than 90% on any event and you're fired. Go work somewhere else. I can definitely go without this freaking diversion.
-------------------- If it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all. Posts: 1529 | From: Tacoma WA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
update from fox news....gates act like he didnt know about some stuff....total BS. just watch....the department of defense is in for a massive surprise when it comes to asking people to stay in....career soldiers have already begun leaving in massive numbers....senior leaders calling bullsh* and chosing their families over the iraq war. way to go bush...way to care about the troops you exploit so much on you piece of SH**
Pentagon Will Stretch Active-Duty Army Tours in Iraq to 15 Months Wednesday, April 11, 2007
E-MAIL STORY RESPOND TO EDITOR PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION WASHINGTON — In a change of Pentagon policy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday that all active duty Army soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan will now serve their tours for as long as 15 months, an increase over the standard year-long deployment.
In an acknowledgement of the strains the U.S. military surge in Iraq is having on the military, Gates told reporters that the new policy will be effective immediately on all units in the Central Command area of responsibility. The troops will continue to return home to their stations for not less than 12 months rotations. The rule will apply to all except for of two brigades currently deployed that have already been extended to 16-month deployments.
"Without this action, we would have had to deploy five Army active duty brigades sooner than the 12-month at home goal. I believe it is fairer to all soldiers that all share the burden equally," Gates said, adding that the policy will prevent troops from being informed mid-service that their tour is extended and will provide the Defense Department's capacity to sustain the deployed force.
Gates said the move will also create the capacity for commanders to extend the military surge in Iraq for at least a year, although he said any such decision to do so will depend on conditions on the ground. He did add that he wished the pace of political reconciliation among Iraqis was moving quicker.
(Story continues below)
Advertise Here Advertisements RelatedStories White House Struggles to Fill Opening for War Czar to Oversee Iraq, Afghanistan Senator John McCain Defends Iraq War, Bush's Troop Surge Plan Obama Slams McCain for Using Market Visit as Proof Iraq Security is Improving Republicans Battle Democrats Over Funding U.S. Troops in Iraq, Afghanistan 15,000 Troops Could Stay Longer in Iraq Video Extended Tours Soldiers would be entitled to additional pay of $1,000 a month. The policy change will not affect deployed Marines who will continue with their standard seven-month tours or Army National Guard or Army Reserve, which will continue to serve 12-month tours.
The announcement marked one of the rare occasions when the military has not first told soldiers and their families about extended deployments, before going public with the news. And in a rare flash of temper, Gates acknowledged that a leak within the Pentagon forced his hand.
"I'll be very blunt. Some very thoughtless person in this building made the unilateral decision yesterday to deny the Army the opportunity to notify unit commanders who could then talk to their troops 48 hours before we made a public announcement. And I can't tell you how angry it makes many of us that one individual would create potentially so much hardship, not only for our service men and women, but their families by giving -- by letting them read about something like this in the newspapers," he said.
Currently 145,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, and when the buildup is completed by June, there would be more than 160,000, officials are calculating.
Democrats were quick to criticize the decision.
"Today's announcement just underscores the fact that the burden of the war in Iraq has fallen upon our troops and their families," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "Extending the tours of all active-duty Army personnel is an unacceptable price for our troops and their families to pay."
"What a difference a day makes. Yesterday, extending tours of duty was 'unacceptable' to the President. Today, it is Pentagon policy. American troops and taxpayers are paying the price for a war with no end in sight," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
Gates acknowledged that the policy change is a sign of added stress on the Army, as commanders plan for deployments in Iraq into 2010 and troops continuing to operate in Afghanistan.
"I think that what this recognizes, though, is that our forces are stretched. There's no question about that."
FOX News' Jennifer Griffin and Nick Simeone contributed to this report.
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
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quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: update from fox news....gates act like he didnt know about some stuff....total BS. just watch....the department of defense is in for a massive surprise when it comes to asking people to stay in....career soldiers have already begun leaving in massive numbers....senior leaders calling bullsh* and chosing their families over the iraq war. way to go bush...way to care about the troops you exploit so much on you piece of SH**
Pentagon Will Stretch Active-Duty Army Tours in Iraq to 15 Months Wednesday, April 11, 2007
E-MAIL STORY RESPOND TO EDITOR PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION WASHINGTON — In a change of Pentagon policy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday that all active duty Army soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan will now serve their tours for as long as 15 months, an increase over the standard year-long deployment.
In an acknowledgement of the strains the U.S. military surge in Iraq is having on the military, Gates told reporters that the new policy will be effective immediately on all units in the Central Command area of responsibility. The troops will continue to return home to their stations for not less than 12 months rotations. The rule will apply to all except for of two brigades currently deployed that have already been extended to 16-month deployments.
"Without this action, we would have had to deploy five Army active duty brigades sooner than the 12-month at home goal. I believe it is fairer to all soldiers that all share the burden equally," Gates said, adding that the policy will prevent troops from being informed mid-service that their tour is extended and will provide the Defense Department's capacity to sustain the deployed force.
Gates said the move will also create the capacity for commanders to extend the military surge in Iraq for at least a year, although he said any such decision to do so will depend on conditions on the ground. He did add that he wished the pace of political reconciliation among Iraqis was moving quicker.
(Story continues below)
Advertise Here Advertisements RelatedStories White House Struggles to Fill Opening for War Czar to Oversee Iraq, Afghanistan Senator John McCain Defends Iraq War, Bush's Troop Surge Plan Obama Slams McCain for Using Market Visit as Proof Iraq Security is Improving Republicans Battle Democrats Over Funding U.S. Troops in Iraq, Afghanistan 15,000 Troops Could Stay Longer in Iraq Video Extended Tours Soldiers would be entitled to additional pay of $1,000 a month. The policy change will not affect deployed Marines who will continue with their standard seven-month tours or Army National Guard or Army Reserve, which will continue to serve 12-month tours.
The announcement marked one of the rare occasions when the military has not first told soldiers and their families about extended deployments, before going public with the news. And in a rare flash of temper, Gates acknowledged that a leak within the Pentagon forced his hand.
"I'll be very blunt. Some very thoughtless person in this building made the unilateral decision yesterday to deny the Army the opportunity to notify unit commanders who could then talk to their troops 48 hours before we made a public announcement. And I can't tell you how angry it makes many of us that one individual would create potentially so much hardship, not only for our service men and women, but their families by giving -- by letting them read about something like this in the newspapers," he said.
Currently 145,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, and when the buildup is completed by June, there would be more than 160,000, officials are calculating.
Democrats were quick to criticize the decision.
"Today's announcement just underscores the fact that the burden of the war in Iraq has fallen upon our troops and their families," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "Extending the tours of all active-duty Army personnel is an unacceptable price for our troops and their families to pay."
"What a difference a day makes. Yesterday, extending tours of duty was 'unacceptable' to the President. Today, it is Pentagon policy. American troops and taxpayers are paying the price for a war with no end in sight," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
Gates acknowledged that the policy change is a sign of added stress on the Army, as commanders plan for deployments in Iraq into 2010 and troops continuing to operate in Afghanistan.
"I think that what this recognizes, though, is that our forces are stretched. There's no question about that."
FOX News' Jennifer Griffin and Nick Simeone contributed to this report.
posted
Bush has to come to reality DRAFT,DRAFT,and DRAFT.
We cannot exspect this handful to carry this burden anymore.
There has to be a shared sacrifice we will not have the man power to do the job.
Bush says this is a noble war and it is world wide and our survival is at stake.
If this is true why do we lack for volunteers?
The last president that made the same call was Roosevelt and the recruiters could not handle all the men trying to enlist.
Where are you die hard republicans you are 100,000,000 pep[le about 30% of the country you want this war can't you at least come up with 100,000. able body men and women. Why isn't your glorious leaders childern there showing you a good example. Roosevelt 4 sons allserved why is Bushes wife not helping making trips to Bagdad to ease the suffering of the wounded after all Mr. Bush called this a noble world war for our survival.
Would it shame you at all if a man like me that was getting close to 60 due you fighting for you again.
I know what you can do ask the noble draft dodgers that want to send everybody eles to war Cheney and Snow to do reruns on the swift boat crew that was there make fun of them again. LOL to all of you. If I were you I would be ashamed to show my face in public.
Posts: 6008 | From: phoenix az | Registered: Mar 2005
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it seemed to me to support my suspicions that Bush's neo-con group is actully trying to make more war rather than win this one and get it over with...
seems that anybody who really wants to fight is going merc and getting paid triple what the US Troops are.... they are probably not being equipped properly tho (anything to cut costs?)
today was not a good day for Petraeus:
parliament was hit with a bomb reported to be INSIDE the building and this:
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