National Guard May Extend Iraq Stays

Under New Pentagon Plans, Stateside Troops May Return To Iraq Warfront Or Remain Beyond 24-Month Limit

(AP)  The nation's citizen soldiers, already strained by long tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, could be tapped again under new plans being developed by the Pentagon.

National Guard combat brigades that have already served in Iraq may be called for a second tour, likely breaking the 24-month deployment limit initially set by the Pentagon, the Guard's top general said.

While active-duty soldiers and smaller Guard units and members have returned to Iraq for multiple tours, the new plans would, for the first time, send entire Guard combat brigades back to the battlefront. Brigades generally have about 3,500 troops.

The move — which could include brigades from Arkansas, Florida, Indiana and North Carolina — would force the Pentagon to make the first large-scale departure from its previous decision not to deploy reserves for more than a cumulative 24 months in Iraq.

For some units, a second tour would mean they would likely exceed that two-year maximum. The planning was described by Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, who commands the Guard, in an Associated Press interview this week.

In a related move, the Pentagon is preparing to release a list of active units — and perhaps reserves as well — scheduled to go to Iraq that would largely maintain the current level of forces there over the next two years, another senior defense official said. There are about 152,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

That official requested anonymity because the plan has not been made public.

The Pentagon routinely notifies units to prepare for deployment, knowing it is easier to cancel a move overseas than to suddenly make such a large troop movement.

It was not clear whether this week's resignation of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld would affect deployment plans. President Bush has selected former CIA chief Robert Gates, who has criticized U.S. policy in Iraq, to replace Rumsfeld, but he has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.

"We are doing contingency planning for one or two (units), and we have contingency plans for more than two if necessary," Blum said Wednesday. The North Carolina brigade, he said, is being considered since it was one of the first to go to Iraq after the war began in 2003.

Blum also said defense officials have been discussing whether they need to adjust their policy that limits the deployment of reserves in the war to 24 months.

"When that policy was originally formulated, I seriously doubt anyone thought we would be where we are today, at the level of commitment that is necessary today," he said.

Just last month, defense officials said the Marines are drawing up similar plans that would for the first time send some reserve combat battalions back to Iraq for a second tour.

Under the authority by which Bush ordered a call-up of the Guard and Reserve after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, troops could be mobilized an unlimited number of times as long as each mobilization is no longer than 24 consecutive months.

Until now, Pentagon officials have interpreted that as 24 cumulative months.

While the ultimate goal for the National Guard is to deploy one year overseas and spend six years at home, Blum said current demands could force soldiers to deploy as often as one year every three or four years.

Blum said he believes that Guard combat brigades are prepared and willing to make a second trip to Iraq if needed.

He said the first units to deploy in the war — such as the 30th Infantry Brigade from North Carolina, the 76th Infantry Brigade from Indiana, the 53rd Infantry Brigade from Florida and the 39th Infantry Brigade from Arkansas — would probably be among those first called for a second tour.

"Logic would lead you to go back to the ones that went first, and start going around again," said Blum. "But that's probably not exactly how we'll do it" because the decision will depend partly on what types of units are needed.

Blum also said the Pentagon would no longer break up the brigades and send them to war in smaller units. He said Guard brigades are more effective working as teams.

[feelfree1]

ozilot,

The Democrats accepted every single piece of false "intelligence" that was presented in support of the illegal invasion, (WMD, ties to terrorism, greeted as liberators, etc.), without question, even though anyone that examined the various claims was able to determine them to be false.

Most of the Democrat Congress men and women abdicated their Constitutional responsibility to decide in matters of war (declaring war, which has yet to be done) to the unelected Commander-in-Chimp, most of the Democrats have continually voted to fund the illegal and disgraceful war, and the Democrats ran a pro-war candidate for president, Kerry.

I believe Clinton also signed the "Let's Get Saddam Act" or something to that effect, of 1998 or therabouts, in compliance with his PNAC masters. (See "Rebuilding America's Defenses", the "U.S. National Security Strategy of 2002", and other fascistic propaganda). Hillary was still cheerleading the Iraq war, last I heard, and don't even get me started on Lieberman.

Additionally, most of our mational Legislators have pledged allegiance to Israel, whose leaders' interests were the only ones primarily served by the illegal invasion. (ie- a weakened Iraq was in their interests).

Those are a few ways. I only have 1500 characters per comment here, and limited time.

Hope this helps.

[feelfree1]

marcelde,

What you are saying about propaganda is quite appropriate. But I hope that you will agree that the Democrat Party is entirely complicit in the propoganda effort.

[marcelde]

HOW AVOIDABLE THIS TRAJEDY COULD HAVE BEEN IF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAD EXERCISED SOME RESTRAINT AND INCLUDED OUR ALLIES IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

THE HEAD OF HITLER%u2019S PROPAGANDA, HERMAN GOERING SAID IT QUITE WELL AT THE NUREMBERG TRIAL:

"But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. ... voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

ReichsMarshall Hermann Goering, the ("Nuremberg Diary") one of the highest-ranking Nazis who survived to be captured and put on trial for war crimes.

THIS PROPAGANDA CONTINUES IN THE PRESENT MISADMINISTRATION.

DO NOT PROP A GANDER. BUSH SHOULD HAVE USED PROPER CANDOR!

[catt42701]

With the National Guard gone who will guard our nation?

[feelfree1]

WVopfor81,

None of what you have posted provides any legal basis for the "illegal war of aggression" against Iraq.

The State of Israel is in violation of more UN Security Council Resolutions than any other country on the planet. They also have nuclear weapons (WMD), have slaughtered thousands of innocent civilians, illegally invade and occupy neighboring countries, have a chronic history of using "human shields", and of ignoring international law.

Why aren't we "liberating" them?

[wvopfor81]

How can you abuse a contract unless the contracting officer allows it to happen

[wvopfor81]

http://www.answers.com/topic/united-nations-security-council-resolution-1441

1) That Iraq was in material breach of the ceasefire terms presented under the terms of Resolution 687. Iraq's breaches related not only to WMDs, but also the known construction of prohibited types of missiles, the purchase and import of prohibited armaments, and the continuing refusal of Iraq to compensate Kuwait for the widespread looting conducted by its troops in 1991.

[wvopfor81]

2) That 1441, and its deadline, represented Iraq's final opportunity to comply with disarmament requirements. In accordance with the previous Resolutions, this meant Iraq not only had to verify the existence or destruction of its remaining unaccounted-for WMD stockpiles, but also had to ensure that all equipment, plans, and materials useful for the resumption of WMD programs was likewise turned over or verified as destroyed.

[wvopfor81]

3) That "...false statements or omissions in the declarations submitted by Iraq pursuant to this resolution and failure by Iraq at any time to comply with, and cooperate fully in the implementation of, this resolution shall constitute a further material breach of Iraq%u2019s obligations".

[j-whitman]

WV,,, conspericy theory ?? Our Former Treasury Secretary who controls the Hedge Funds which run the companies getting awarded the new Iraq contracts,, those same execs accused of contract abuse are going to work for the new companies.. WAR PROFITEERING PART 2... See you around. Bye.

[wvopfor81]

Off to sleep in my trailer %u2026 I live in a trailer for polit(*) reasons not economic reasons but it%u2019s better that a tent

[wvopfor81]

Is that a consericy theory knew what

[j-whitman]

Ive really got things to do,,, nice talking to you WV,,, keep your head down. Always seek the truth.

[j-whitman]

WV,, Don't you ever wonder why Iran & Lybia was always the regional problem with Terrorism ?? Or why Iraq & not Iran ?? Cheney knew, a lot of us new for years,,, Why Iraq ??

[wvopfor81]

idiots ... not at my level .. Im a litle man on the pole

[wvopfor81]

S^&% you better drink a beer for me tonight%u2026%u2026%u2026.
We can argue more later


WV

[wvopfor81]

*** you better drink a beer for me tonight%u2026%u2026%u2026.
We can argue more later


WV

[wvopfor81]

*** you better drink a beer for me tonight%u2026%u2026%u2026.
We can argue more later


WV

[j-whitman]

WV,,, Win it ??? By listening to the idiots who got us into it ??

[wvopfor81]

We will kill them or change our polices (capitulate) so that they are happy .. IE All Muslim nations WW