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)  At a Pentagon news conference, Gates said it was too early to estimate how long the troop buildup would last but his new policy would give the Pentagon the capability to maintain the higher force levels until next April. Democrats in Congress, and some Republicans, oppose the buildup and are trying to force Bush to change course.

Gates said that without making 15 months the standard tour length in place of the current 12, he would have been forced to send five active-duty Army brigades to Iraq before they completed their one year at home.

"I think it is fair to all soldiers that all share the burden equally," he said.

Anthony Cordesman, an Iraq watcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Gates faced little choice, with the strains already on the Army and no certainty about when the war might end.

"You've got to do it," Cordesman said of the tour extensions, if the president's plan is to have a chance to succeed.

The longer tours do not apply to the National Guard or Reserve, nor to the Marines, who comprise about 25,000 of the 145,000 troops in Iraq. The Marines are sticking to their standard seven-month tours, with an average of seven months at home between tours, although some units have had their tours lengthened recently.

Gen. Peter Pace, the Joint Chiefs chairman who appeared at the news conference with Gates, acknowledged that longer tours in Iraq and Afghanistan make life harder for many soldiers.

"Is it an additional strain to go from 12 months to 15 months? Of course it is," Pace said. "Is it in combat and therefore even more difficult? Of course it is. And that's why the entire nation should be thankful that we have such incredible young men and women who, knowing that, who volunteer to serve this nation in a time of great need."

In an indication of the Pentagon's concern about how hard the news would hit Army families, Gates angrily denounced a news leak of his announcement. "I can't tell you how angry it makes many of us" that the leak denied the Army the ability to give families 48 hours notice, as planned, Gates told reporters.

"This policy is a difficult but necessary interim step," Gates said, adding that the goal is to eventually return to 12 months as the standard length of tour in Iraq and Afghanistan. As recently as February, senior Army leaders were telling soldiers they remained hopeful that tour lengths could be shortened to nine months or six months.

Gates said the new policy seeks to ensure that all active-duty Army units get at least 12 months at home between deployments.

[sclaires]

Don't believe everything you read in the paper about the National Guard not being extended also. THEY ARE!!!!!! Just because Bush started this war and doesn't know how to end it he is using every possible method he knows to keep the US fighting a losing war. When will they ever learn??????

[kpbkpb]

Because the Demos. will not give Bush his way with increasing the military, keeping the war going on forever, and the money for Iraq, he now adds on an additional three months to these poor men and women who have been in combat and living in bad conditions? That's how he's allowed to get around what the people want and need? What is best for America and for Iraq? Mr. Bush EDUCATION is what Iraq needs.

People where I work, who use to go around bragging they help put a Repub. in office and what GREAT changes were going to be made, are no longer heard from. They hang their heads low when people at the breakroom start talking about what a blunder has been made by this adminisration and how dishonest it been. People who put him in--are you proud now? If you are--go to Iraq and trade places with our men and women. See how it feels to have to sleep with one eye open and a gun at your fingertips. Be frightened if any cars come down the road or even a woman or child walking; they could have bombs on them. Would our President be willing to spend the rest of the war over there with the common soldier and live as they do?

[mmatthias1]

for our husbands, us wives, we were stabbed in our hearts to see them go, and now the blade is being twisted and twisted digging in deeper and deeper. how in the world can a person just keep on going without a care in the world for those that are forced to sacrifice they're lives and duties and what not for a greedy president? let bush go to the front lines and fight his own battle all by himself, and see if anybody will miss him as much as we miss our loved ones!

[mh4cbs1]

So our chickhawk, draft-dodging party-boy President and Mr. 5-deferment Cheney have no trouble extending the Iraq tours of our troops to 15 Months.

This is NOT supporting our troops!!

This is using them as cannon fodder for their NeoCon imperial War, based on LIES. A needless War, a horrific War that has left us less safe, 3,200 dead troops (that is NOT how you "support the troops"), $600 Billion wasted, a couple hundred thousand dead Iraqis.

When will America stand up and demand impeachment and JAIL for these Murderous Thugs - Cheney and Bush?!

Take the coffins of our dead soldiers and line them up end to end and they will go on and on for 4 miles! Think about it next time you are driving along the highway. For FOUR MILES imagine the coffins rushing past you, each with grieving families, fatherless kids.

BUSH AND CHENEY belon in JAIL for LYING us into this Disaster.

Worst American President EVER? DUH! Throw him and Cheney in JAIL where they belong.

[bluestardad]

irishbitch1; you are wellcome I have many more! Still love your post!

[tucano2]

Attaboy Georgie-girlie-boy! Now with the troops far away you can continue to keep our borders wide open, and they will not be able to stop you when you make it official that you have surrendered the USA to Mexico. Bush, you are a traitor.

[incog-nito]

The surge and troops extensions will just drag this war out until Bush leaves office, so that he can blame losing the war on someone else.

Here's what going to happen: At some point the U.S. will announce that the Iraqis are ready to fend to themselves, declare "victory", redeploy (as opposed to withdraw) the troops, and wash their hands clean. The Iraq gov't takes another year or so to collapse, at which point the U.S. will try to blame the Iraqis for their failure.

Just like Vietnam.

[incog-nito]

t

[drinuk]

forthepeol1, You are quite right, the people are sick of this mess, however the people both you and the Brits need to stage a coup have very cynically been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. Like us Brits you need the army and they aint here. I think we are closer to seeing the two governments overturned than ever before, never in my lifetime have I seen governments treating the us like this, not just this terrorist nonsense but in many other of their corrupt, dishonest and criminal acts against the people too, the list is endless.

[irishbitch1]

Bluestardad
Thanks for the email addresses!

[bluestardad]

Did you know that the Bush Administration has been back filling Ranger Units with Three Week trained Troops that go to a Ranger Familiarization course and then are back filled in Ranger Units to fill up the unit strength so they can deploy them! These are not Black Tab Rangers but soldiers that are Pre-Rangers just to fill a Ranger Slot and forced to go into combat without the full Black Tab Training Course! DO ANY OF YOU THINK THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO TRAIN AND COMMIT OUR TROOPS INTO BATTLE?

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

Th
e House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

info@go
p.com Here is the Republican Party email address too!

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

[bluestardad]

IRAQ IS NOT IN AMERICAS INTEREST! PULL OUT!
It is not anti Semitic to believe there are millions of other good people in the Middle East with valid concerns!

Even Eisenhower had problems with Israeli groups but he did not let them buy him!

READ AS THEY BRAG ABOUT THEIR INFLUENCE ON OUR GOVERNMENT!
http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm


Founded in 1953 by Isaiah L. "Si" Kenen, AIPAC's original name was the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. According to UCLA political science professor and author, Steven Spiegel, "the tension between the Eisenhower administration and Israeli supporters was so acute that there were rumors that the administration would investigate the American Zionist Council. Therefore, an independent lobbying committee was formed, which years later was renamed [AIPAC]." [SPIEGEL, p. 52].[citation needed] Today, AIPAC has over 100,000 members.[1]
Activities and stated goals
AIPAC's stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together" to meet the challenges of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism and achieving peace".[2] AIPAC has been effective in gaining support for Israel among members of Congress and White House administrations.
The New York Times described AIPAC on July 6, 1987 as "a major force in shaping United States policy in the Middle East."

[forthepeopl1]

By my count, at least five retired generals have turned down the "war czar" job. Only one of them, retired Marine Jack Sheehan, has publicly said why.

"I don't think they've got a coherent strategy," Sheehan told me, adding "the real issue is does Cheney play in this deal?" In other words, will the "war czar" have to do daily battle with the Vice President, a battle in which the VP has all the clout?

No general, even one who is not a critic of the strategy, would want to be "war czar." Generals are used to giving orders and having them followed or else. The "war czar" would be, to use Gates' terms, "a coordinator and a facilitator," which in bureaucratic terms means he would be responsible for making all agencies pull together but would have no authority to make it happen.

He would be, in other words, a four-star nagger.

THEY MADE A MISTAKE IN WHAT WAS SAID.

HE WOULD BE, IN OTHER WORDS, A FOUR-STAR

N/I/G/G/E/R/!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!

HE WAS JUST BEING POLITAIL CORRECT.. NO ONE WANT TO SAY THE TRUTH..I WILL....

[candygriffin]

My favorite quote, "They'll be disappointed, but they'll do it." Are you kidding?! Like they have a choice. My husband is currently over there and has been there since October. Don't worry, Shrub, he can miss ANOTHER Thanksgiving and ANOTHER Christmas and ANOTHER Anniversary and ANOTHER birthday! It is bad enough that he is on his second tour over there! How many lives have to be lost before he brings them all home?

[forthepeopl1]

LIKE I STATED MANY TIMES HERE ITS TIME FOR AMERICA TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST WASHINGTON AND TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY..

AND ITS TIME THAT ALL OUR MEDIA START REPORTING THIS....

[phoenix1218]

I have a cousin who has been over there many times and we all worry about him. I also have a few classmates from high school who have been or are over seas right now and even though I wasn't exactly friends with them I do wish them all the best of luck over there with a safe and quick return. The same goes for ALL the soldiers of every armed force. It is time to bring them home however we need to support them while they are there and show a unified front. I just wish the liars (oops, I mean politicians) up in washington could realize that.

[candygriffin]

My favorite quote, "They'll be disappointed, but they'll do it." Are you kidding?! Like they have a choice. My husband is currently over there and has been there since October. Don't worry, Shrub, he can miss ANOTHER Thanksgiving and ANOTHER Christmas and ANOTHER Anniversary and ANOTHER birthday! It is bad enough that he is on his second tour over there! How many lives have to be lost before he brings them all home?

[terrapin78]

What a bunch of liars.

They said it would be the "withholding of funds that would extend the tours of duty" but now they ORDER extended tours.

The Bushies have decimated our military! They have weakened us.

IMPEACH NOW!

[candygriffin]

My favorite quote, "They'll be disappointed, but they'll do it." Are you kidding?! Like they have a choice. My husband is currently over there and has been there since October. Don't worry, Shrub, he can miss ANOTHER Thanksgiving and ANOTHER Christmas and ANOTHER Anniversary and ANOTHER birthday! It is bad enough that he is on his second tour over there! How many lives have to be lost before he brings them all home?

[forthepeopl1]

EVEN WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING EVERYDAY FOR RECRUITS TO COME AND THEY ARE HAVEING A HARD TIME OF IT. I HAVE SAID I WILL GO BACK IN.. AND GUESS WHAT THEY DONT WANT ME IN BECAUSE I WILL DO WHAT I HAVE STATED HERE. AND THEY KNOW IT..

SO I HAVE TRYED AND STILL TRYING TO HELP OUR TROOPS GET OUT OF THIS..