Army Extends Tours For Active Duty Troops

Gates: Increase In Soldiers' Tours From 12 Months To 15 Will Meet Troop Demands In Iraq, Afghanistan

(CBS/AP)  Stretched thin by four years of war, the Army is adding three months to the standard yearlong tour for all active duty soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, an unpopular step aimed at maintaining the troop buildup in Baghdad.

The change, announced Wednesday by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, is the latest blow to an all-volunteer Army that has been given ever-shorter periods of rest and retraining at home between overseas deployments.

Rather than continue to shrink the at-home intervals to a point that might compromise soldiers' preparedness for combat, Gates chose to lengthen combat tours to buy time for units newly returned from battle.

"Our forces are stretched, there's no question about that," Gates said.

The extended tours are a price the Army must pay to sustain the troop buildup that President Bush ordered in January as part of his re-jiggered strategy for stabilizing Baghdad and averting a U.S. defeat. Troop levels are being boosted from 15 brigades to 20 brigades, and in order to keep that up beyond summer the Army faced harsh choices: either send units to Iraq with less than 12 months at home, or extend tours.

Reaction on Capitol Hill to Gates' announcement was harsh.

Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the longer tours will have a "chilling effect" on recruiting and the Army's ability to keep soldiers from quitting the service.

"We also must not underestimate the enormous negative impact this will have on Army families," Skelton said.

Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, one of only two Republicans who voted to set a timetable for beginning to withdraw troops from Iraq, said Gates' announcement was a "stark admission that the administration's policies in Iraq are doing permanent damage to our military."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who supports the troop buildup, said of the affected soldiers, "They'll be disappointed, but they'll do it."

Indeed, at Fort Hood, Texas, home of the 4th Infantry Division, some Army families took the news in stride.

Carol Frennier, whose husband, Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Frennier, is in Iraq, said she had prepared herself and her family for a longer deployment.

"They kind of told us to expect 12 months to 18 months," she said. "We were already prepared to have them extended." And her family has been through an extended tour of duty before.

"Last time they said nine months, and it was 14 months," Frennier said.

It's not just soldiers that are in short supply, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. The White House is having a hard time finding a retired general to become a new czar to coordinate war strategy for both Iraq and Afghanistan.

At least five retired generals have said "no," Martin reports, some citing personal reasons. But one of them, Retired Marine Jack Sheehan, said he turned it down because "I don't think they've got a coherent strategy."

[skyhawk761]

Can you say, backdoor draft?

[mcvet]

Are we so blind, have we become so engrossed with saving the face of the Worst President in US History that we will allow our Military to be treated like this. This is OUR defense people and they aren't even in the SAME country with those that attacked us. Someone had better wake up here and soon.

[getcentered]

STOP LOSS!!
Backdoor draft!

Call it what you want, this can't go on forever.


The Iraq war is creating more people that hate the US, that's for sure.

If we were to start getting 100% control over Iraq then the "terrorists" aren't going to stay there if attacking America is the goal.

The whole "we have to fight them in Iraq so we don't fight them at home" argument is a sham.

Secure the borders and ports.
Find Bin Laden.

[beachbumfun]

Draft the Bush twins first;
let McCain go back to Bagdad with a rifle;
bring full draft back and start with the kids
in college who are not making a 2.75 average;
do that and look how long it will take middle America to wake up and throw out the bums who started this whole mess.
Oh yeah, make sure the twins get some frontline action.

[randalds]

One more disgusting announcement from this corrupt administration! More of our troops staying longer to die for NOTHING! Bush knows this war is lost, but rather then admit that he scre*wed up he's going to drag it out until the next president takes office and dump the bloody problem in their lap! That works for him because after the next president does the smart (and humane) thing and pulls our troops out then Bush will be able to sit on his lying as*s in Texas and say "It would have worked if they'd just stayed the course! It's their fault the war was lost!". In the meantime he doesn't care how many of our troops have to die to cover his as*s! he is without a doubt the single most disgusting tick of person ever to occupying any office in American history! There are no words that properly describe what a low life as*shole worm he is! He's the stuff maggots vomit up, but even that doesn't come close to saying how scummy he is for this sh*it! He will be hated for generations to come around the world.

[tuckerndfw]

George Bush sure has a strange idea of "supporting the troops."

Maybe he and all his supporters should volunteer to replace the troops in Iraq & Afghanistan. Since John McCain claims Iraq is a safe place to take a vacation, he should be the first to volunteer.

George Bush and D. Cheney should be impeached before they can cause permanent damage to the US and further damage to US soldiers.

[wizest]

Where's rah rah go Bush go?

[randalds]

party over country
power over Constitution
expediency over responsibility
politics over doing the right thing
lies over truth
money over partriotism

Posted by DefndLiberty at 03:32 PM : Apr 11, 2007

And profit over the blood and lives of our soldiers.

[micma-2009]

So this is what Bu$h means by support the troops.

[us_infidel]

I guess it's just too much to ask for the MSM to come up with anything good to say. Maybe one day there will be fairness in the news again. I just don't think I'll live long enough to see it - and I'm 37.

[inventagod]

So a manly bulge in troop numbers wasn't enough for Bu$h and the Pentagoons... Now they introduce troop fatigue as another joke in this poorly planned and ungodly oil invasion...
Great.

Downing Street Memos, bush lied us into war. Outing NOC CIA agent and her cover Brewster Jennings. Warrantless spying on Americans. BILLIONS of $ lost in Iraq. I guess Jeff Gannon would have produce a stained suit before congress decides to IMPEACH the crooks and liars in the whitehouse...go figure....

[rsoxfan1123]

Might as well lump all of these articles under one title: Bush's Disaster Continues Full Speed Ahead.

[acauble1]

I'm still reeling from the statements made by Bush over the past few days, actually blaming the extended tours on the Democrats and their war funding bill!

I mean... how can one be so f'ing arrogant!

I guess Bush realizes how stupid his followers really are, and no matter what he says, it will be 100% supported, believed, and repeated numerous times!

I hope someday, in a stuper, Bush says something like "God smiles on those who jump off high bridges, and so do I." This country's population would drop by almost 1/3 within a few days time.

[bluestardad]

The American People are not stupid! We know that if the Democratic Majority does not approve the Iraq War Supplemental Budget Requested by President Bush for the War the War Stops!

If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[e-mail] Here is the Republican Party email address too!

[e-mail] Here is the Democratic Party email address also!

[tejasdemo]

What a complete SOB slimeball jerk Bush and Cheney are.

I agree. The Democrats should tell Bush to go to hell. NO MORE MONEY FOR THIS WAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[missmyhubby]

I just found out on the news that my husband is not coming home for 3 additional months. And as an additional slap in the face, these brave men and women did not even get this information before the rest of the world...they heard it on the news. I feel broken...

[rsoxfan1123]

Considering that the tax rate for those earning over $400,000 per year is right around 9% while the middle class pays right about 12.6%, how about raising the tax rate on the extremely wealthy to 9.5% and paying off the national debt while you're at it?

[nolalou]

I partially blame the Democrats in the Senate for this. They should not have confirmed Gen. Petraeus or the new Defense Secretary Robert Gates, without fist getting a commitment from them to come up with a plan for withdrawal of our troops from Iraq! If they didn't agree, reject them, until Bush appointed someone who could do the job! If Bush didn't agree with that policy, then cut off the funds, and tell Bush to go F himself!

[rsoxfan1123]

nolalou-You do have a point. The fact remians, however, that Bush needs to learn to compromise. His "my way or the highway" bully tactics are creating a log jam.

[armymomnj]

This is ***! My daughter now won't be home until after this Christmas. That means she will have missed 2 Christmas's in a row with her children. I don't even know if she knows this yet. She and her children will be so heartbroken... This is so good for troop morale... NOT!

[king77shaw]

The morality of a war can be judged by who is willing to fight it ... the US can't muster enough troops for their current occupations whereas Al Quaeda seems to have no problem with recruitment ...

[randalds]

Posted by didntinhale at 04:23 PM : Apr 11, 2007

Actually if you knew how to read correctly you'd know that I only came up with the last one, profit over the blood and lives of our soldiers. Still what could I have expected from a Bushy anyway.

[us_infidel]

This is so good for troop morale... NOT!
Posted by armymomnj at 04:41 PM : Apr 11, 2007

Did the army issue her kids? I doubt it. What did she do, join for the college fund? Imagine that....I joined the army, but I never though we'd EVER go to war. I feel for your loss, but quit whining. She enlisted. Now suck it up and deal with it.

[kevboom]

"politics over doing the right thing--Definite liberal principle wanting to lose the war on terror just to win the white house in 08"

Not enough time to counter every argument (and believe me, they can all be countered), but let's start with this one. Doing the "right thing" should have started years ago with your boy in the white house starting his "war on terror" against the real terrorists in Saudi Arabia and not a bunch of boobs in Iraq. Several hundred billion later, 3000+ dead troops, estimates of 50000-100000 dead Iraqi civilians, and decades of sheer misery for those left in the wake (including our own dead soldiers' families), one would think liberal bashers would start calling the "war on terror" kettle black. Either you have stock in Amoco and Halliburton reconstruction contracts, or you weren't born with a clue. Playing right into the terrorists' hands with your knee-jerk reactions to fear. Let's just continue to thump our chests and create a few thousand more terrorists every month instead of isolating the middle east to stew in its own juice. Great policies.

[xsoldier2]

RandalDS learn to write I don%u2019t understand your liberal jargon

[roger_inkart]

Comment from armymomnj

"This is so good for troop morale... NOT!"

May I ask you who you voted for in '00 and '04?

[middleman8]

When are these troops going to stand up for there constitional and God given rights to say hell no we won't kill no more.

[randalds]

RandalDS learn to write I don%u2019t understand your liberal jargon
Posted by xsoldier2 at 05:05 PM : Apr 11, 2007

Hmmm...."liberal jargon"? I'm using all American colloquial English. No jargon or slogans. Of course if it's still over your head how about this:

See D*ick. See D*ick pull Bush's puppet strings. See more troops go to bad place. See more troops die for nothing. Die troops, die for money for D*ick's friends. See troops come home. See troops without arms or legs. See troops in run down filthy quarters. See Bush redirect hospital money to war. See Haliburton get no-bid contract for fixing hospital. See them cut money. See Bush lie about it. Lie Bush, lie. Maybe some fool will believe Bush lies. Lie Bush, lie.

Understand now?

[fridak-2009]

As a Vietnam era vet, I'll never forget that we had to serve a single 13 month battle zone hitch. If you survived that, you would not go back unless you chose to stay in the military and re-enlisted. I can't even imagine how these soldiers must feel now, with a policy of being sent back repeatedly until wounded or killed.

[randalds]

Your Left wing cowards are so funny. Internet tuff guys giving Bush a tongue lashing? Your a bunch of whiney little pu$$y's who loath our brave fighting men and women and loath your country.

Posted by didntinhale at 05:17 PM : Apr 11, 2007

I'm a Vietnam vet and many of the other people here are vet's too, so shove your coward comments right up your as*s. Or better yet direct them at the two cowards in the White House or the many gutless wonders on here who've never served and yet are more then happy to be cheerleaders to send other peoples kids of to die in Bush's folly.

[acauble1]

After the Republicans took over in 1994, Goldwater started to see the kind of people who were taking the Republican party over. He told the House leader, "...tell those fellows back in Washington that I don't go along with their incivility. They're acting like jerks, not conservatives.... They're driving decent people out of public service, and they're turning off voters. It's dirty politics, and it should end." He was also concerned that the "cultural conservatives" were dividing government and the country : "The Republicans are selling their soul to win elections."

Next: a lesson for you on Conservative Principles.
Posted by DefndLiberty at 05:25 PM : Apr 11, 2007

The Goldwater ideals and the 'Goldwater Conservatives' have been swept under the rug in place of those in Congress who feel they need to put feeding tubes back into medically declared BRAIN DEAD PEOPLE!

[acauble1]

See D*ick. See D*ick pull Bush's puppet strings. See more troops go to bad place. See more troops die for nothing. Die troops, die for money for D*ick's friends. See troops come home. See troops without arms or legs. See troops in run down filthy quarters. See Bush redirect hospital money to war. See Haliburton get no-bid contract for fixing hospital. See them cut money. See Bush lie about it. Lie Bush, lie. Maybe some fool will believe Bush lies. Lie Bush, lie.

Understand now?
Posted by RandalDS at 05:13 PM : Apr 11, 2007

ROTFLMAO!

Now that needs to be published in the form of a 'Little Golden Book' series of Neo-Con childrens' stories!

[randalds]

Posted by didntinhale at 05:17 PM : Apr 11, 2007

I'm a Vietnam vet and many of the other people here are vet's too, so shove your coward comments right up your as*s. Or better yet direct them at the two cowards in the White House or the many gutless wonders on here who've never served and yet are more then happy to be cheerleaders to send other peoples kids of to die in Bush's folly.

Just so you didn't miss it coward.

[soldat44]

Please don't cry to me because your pu$$y is getting sore DFND =)
Posted by didntinhale at 05:33 PM : Apr 11, 2007


Nice language. But not unexpected.

[seven-pesos]

never met a southerner that i ever liked.

war making, bible thumping, redneck, phony christian, twisted evangelist, ignorant slave state idiots.

bush loving creeps.
war loving freaks.
republican snakes.
flag waving psychos.

don't let me catch any of you *** southerners in california.

i'll put my foot up your ignorant dixie azz!

ha,ha,ha.

nothing good comes out of the south.

[aaabee-2009]

Los Angeles Times
April 10, 2007
Pg. 1
Pentagon Strains To Uphold Troops Levels In Iraq
It plans to send four National Guard units back into combat and may extend the tours of five Army brigades.
By Peter Spiegel and Richard Simon, Times Staff Writers

If the National Guard is all over there, who is guarding our national shores?

[soldat44]

If the National Guard is all over there, who is guarding our national shores?
Posted by AaaBee

The United States Coast Guard. Doing the best they can with the limited budget they have. God Bless Them.

[nyckate]

Does anybody need a clearer message that Bush really REALLY screwed up regards Iraq?? Not only did he deceive the nation to get us in there the little sob didn't even plan for any occupancy - he and Cheney and Rumsfeld and Rice were/are so fng delusional they still think those welcoming parades are being planned.

Sheesh - if ANYONE still has a Bush sticker you better get in there and scrap it off -- families of armed forces and reservists will know just how to treat you when they see you're still dumb enough not to take the sticker off!

[inventagod]

Bu$h - Stay The Course!!!!

[seven-pesos]

never met a southerner i ever liked.

azzh0le creep southern trash.

bush loving slave state freaks.

war making republican snakes.

don't let me catch any of you azzh0les in california.

i got my people at the airports and bus stations looking for you lowlife southern trash.

don't let me catch you.

ha,ha,ha.

war, hate, arrogance, phony dixie christian creeps.

nothing good comes out of the south!

[migrainegram]

Sooooo-does this mean he is offering up the twins?

[walt1944-2009]

I'm confused. If Bush won't sign legislation to get the money he wants to continue his never-ending war in Iraq because he doesn't like time limits, where is he going to get the money to buy the equipment and pay the troops to fight his war. Does that mean he will just order the Treasury Dept to print more money and make the dollar more worthless than it already is? Or does he expect to float more loans with the Chinese? Maybe he has a grand scheme to invade Switzerland next and get his mitts on some of that "Nazi gold" the Swiss are supposed to have? Or maybe he expects our troops to live off the land, throw rocks at the enemy (provided they can figure out who the enemy is), and stay in the campaign until he thinks it's over, a lot like the Roman army had to rely on when the emperors thought the campaign was over?

Bush, cheney, rice, gonzales, ashcroft, tenet, rummy, wolfowitz....all the PNAC fascists should be twitching in the wind over the whitehouse lawn...

[migrainegram]

Walt 1944

GWB thinks (somewhere in that pea brain) that he is King George and his VP is Prince Richard. What does he have to lose at this point? Nothing, nada! In 2 + or - years he is over and out.

The rest of us will be purchasing pooper scoopers to clean up the mess the TWO of them have created!!!

[seven-pesos]

jefferson davis lost his war...
johnson lost his war...
bush will lose his war...

idiot southerners love to make war,

they just never learned how to win any wars.

ignorant, redneck phony christian bush loving south.

makes me feel like shiitting

anybody got a confederate flag so i can wipe my a$$?

ha,ha,ha.

nothing good comes out of the south.

[migrainegram]

I'm sure King George is willing to OFFER UP the twins for this effort!

didntinhale

Do you know what a fascist is? Do you know just how stupid the term "Islamofascist" is. Stop regurgitating what they feed you, or do you prefer to look like an idiot?

[space_poet]

didntinhale, So let me get this straight, you think this is a good idea, is that correct? Do you have any family in the military, have you served, have you ever had to kill someone?

If you are so for this, then I'm sure you have many good reasons, why don't you share them with us?

[seven-pesos]

dixie trash...

republican war making snakes.

fat a$$ed, smelly southern cows.

phony christian, war making freaks.

don't let me catch any of you dixie idiots in california.

i'll put my size 13 in your hypocrite a$$!

ha,ha,ha.

nothing good comes out of the south!