Pentagon Extends Afghanistan Tours

Defense Department Extends Combat Tours For 2,200 Marines By 30 Days After Promising For Months To Bring Them Home On Time

(AP)  The U.S. Defense Department has extended the combat tour of 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan after insisting for months the unit would come home on time.

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is doing combat operations in the volatile southern region, will stay an extra 30 days and come home in early November rather than October, Marine Col. David Lapan confirmed Thursday.

Military leaders as recently as Wednesday stressed the need for additional troops in Afghanistan. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has praised the work repeatedly of the 24th MEU in fighting Taliban militants in Helmand Province.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, however, has said repeatedly he did not intend to extend or replace the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, calling their deployment there an extraordinary, one-time effort to help tamp down the increasing violence in the south.

Asked about the possibility of an extension in early May, Gates said he would "be loath to do that." He added that "no one has suggested even the possibility of extending that rotation."

Lapan said Thursday that commanders in Afghanistan asked that the Marines stay longer.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the longer tour does not open the door to an extension beyond the 30 days, nor to the possibility of replacing them with other U.S. troops when they come out in November. "This is a slight addition to this tour and nothing more," he said.

He added that commanders in Afghanistan "asked for 30 more days to milk the fighting season to the bitter end and cement the gains they have made in the south."

The Pentagon announced in January that the Marine Expeditionary Unit was being ordered to Afghanistan, largely because efforts to press other NATO nations to increase their troop levels at the time had failed.

At the same time, about 1,000 members of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, was ordered to deploy also. That unit has been used to train Afghan security forces. As a result of the MEU's extended deployment, Marines from both units are now expected to return home at about the same time.

The Pentagon announced in January that the MEU was being ordered to Afghanistan, largely because efforts to press other NATO nations to increase their troop levels at the time had failed.

Commanders faced with increasing violence have said they need at least 7,500 more troops in Afghanistan. And President George W. Bush and defense officials have said they hope to identify additional units by the end of the year that could go to Afghanistan early next year.

"The Taliban and their supporters have, without question, grown more effective and more aggressive in recent weeks ..., as the casualty figures clearly demonstrate," Mullen told a Pentagon press conference Wednesday.

He added, "It's a very complex problem, and it's tied to the drug trade, a faltering economy and, as I've said many times, the porous border region with Pakistan. There's no easy solution, and there will be no quick fix."

There are 32,000 U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, 14,000 serving with the NATO-led coalition and 18,000 conducting training and counterinsurgency.

The NATO force includes more than 52,000 troops from as many as 40 countries.

[reptilian96]

FOX NEWS discovered the presence of a massive spy ring inside the United States run by the government of Israel. This seems a harsh gratitude from a nation which obtains 10% of its annual budget from the American taxpayer, $3+ billion a year. Over the years, American taxpayers have been required to send Israel more than four times what the US spent to go to the moon.

[samsel3]

And the extermination continues............

More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.



February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ".

The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) .
The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"

UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".

[meganthatch]

Afghans are dirty ungreatful animals. Let them fend for themselves. Get our boys and girls out of that hell hole. There is nothing to win there, just loose.
www.theseriouspolice.com

[whiskyrocker]

cyberus:

Good point.

[cyberus-2009]

----
Nothing worse than a pi$$ed off marine except maybe a woman scorn.

Posted by whiskyrocker
----

Better look out for the female Marines then .. double whammy

[komoncents]

BUSH IS A WAR CRIMINAL.

ALL ELSE ARE SUB-TOPICS.

Posted by ajaxtheleast at 12:47 PM : Jul 04, 2008

CEPT CHENEY IS ALSO A WAR CRIMINAL

WAR CRIME TRIALS FOR THEM BOTH - FOR GENOCIDE

and for God''s sake don''t let your kids sign up to die for these bloodthirsty ***!

[samsel3]

And the extermination continues............

More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.



February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"

UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".

[watcher269-2009]

AGAIN - the White House and the Pentagon go back on their words.

Liars all of them -

Government is supposed to be by the people for the people -


SUCKERS!

By the Rich for the Rich!

You''re all just cannon fodder!

[it_oldtimer]

Let this be a warning to anybody that is thinking about joining the military.

Once they have your name on the enlistment contract they OWN you, lock, stock and barrel. And they don''t have to let you go home again until they''re damned good and ready (if you live long enough to qualify to ever go home again at all).

Beware!

[randynason]

Here we go, all over again. The Great, White Military Machine has spoken. All we need now is Nero playing his fiddle, while Washington burns. Does George "the Wank" Bush know how to fiddle?

[whiskyrocker]

navyjimfl

Nothing worse than a pi$$ed off marine except maybe a woman scorn.

[riptide213]

How patriotically trite, a great 4th of July planned photo op and PR story!

US troops re-upping in mass. A proud tradition of America%u2019s All Volunteer Force.

Respect our troops, but resent vile manipulating interface of intertwined political military machinery pimp behind the scenes stringing out and abusing warriors for dastardly deed profit and hidden agendas.

Since they had no choice but to be there, why not reup for a tax free bonus in the combat zone.

How about all those on STOP LOSS and on IRR call up, who did their time honorably and wish to not reup to pursue a free life as a civilian?

Perhaps this staged Baghdad mass reenlistment story could highlight how our country sustains wars without having to demonstrate political fortitude to activate a draft via an official Selective Service System.

How much tax money is annually depleted to maintain, operate, and staff a dust collecting US Selective Service System?

Who has political chutzpah to use this paper tiger war support and troop bolstering resource?

Instead US cowardly and ingeniously extends military volunteers service legally. Genghis Khan one of the greatest warlords the world has ever seen would be impressed with our modern US military service press gang practices.

There appears to be no legal point where volunteer ends and conscript begins.

Stop STOP LOSS, stop fine print enlistment contracts which allow backdoor drafts.

[ajaxtheleast]

BUSH IS A WAR CRIMINAL.

ALL ELSE ARE SUB-TOPICS.

Now, where was I, , ,

oh yes. . .

the barbecue started a fire, it spread
to the garage, and they''re waiting for
this fire extinguisher.

[walt1944-2009]

The Pentagon has, once again, broken its word to its own soldiers by telling them one thing and doing the opposite.

It is one thing to defend one''s country from an enemy; it''s another to serve a corrupt "corporate" structure that has become a political arm of the party in power, which is what the Pentagon has become! GI''s returning from Vietnam found that out the hard way and today our own soldiers are finding out that nothing has changed!

I think a guy by the name of George Orwell wrote about this in a neocon "condemned" book called "1984"!!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, DEFINITELY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!

[oneamerican-]

Here is a story the liberals will try hard to ignore today:

BAGHDAD %u2014 Servicemembers from all over Iraq gathered here today in the Al Faw Palace rotunda on Camp Victory, to re-enlist and celebrate America%u2019s Independence Day.

All 1,215 servicemembers celebrated by raising their right hand and pledging to continue defending the %u2019land of the free%u2019 in what is the largest re-enlistment ceremony since the all-volunteer force began in 1973, according to the Multi-National Force - Iraq Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt, Maj. Marvin L. Hill.

%u201CVolunteering to continue to serve our nation, while deployed - is both noble and inspiring,%u201D said Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general, Multi-National Force - Iraq. %u201CIt is, as award citations often state, in keeping with the finest traditions of our military services.%u201D

Petraeus presided over the ceremony and led the airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers in their oath to defend their country against all enemies both foreign and domestic on this day of celebration of America winning its independence.

"We recognize the sacrifices they make and the sacrifices their families and communities make as they serve in Iraq," Hill said. %u201CThese servicemembers know the cost of war and they are still re-enlisting.%u201D

[riptide213]

Support our warriors always, not the war if its objectives are not just or obtainable.

Recommended film of the week for US citizens and voters everywhere to view in their spare free time. I use the word free to highlight several levels and definitions of freedom many of us take for granted.

Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Starring. Tom Cruise

Story of innocence lost and courage found.

Biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in Vietnam war, he becomes antiwar and prohuman rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.


Some lessons never seem to be learned.

[navyjimfl]

I can tell you those marines are severely pissed off.....troops can do the time and do their job but they count down for the day they are leaving.....now Bush and his lackies have changed the rules again to keep them there.....30 more days and then they will change them again.....

[riptide213]

Is the US military an All Volunteer Force fiction or non fiction?

During a so called town hall meeting, Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff make clear to soldiers at Fort Stewart, Ga., things would get worse before they would get better. Number of troops held under STOP LOSS policies currently over 12,000. When respectfully confronted on how long Army STOP LOSS policies would continue the answer was. We see a slight growth in the next couple of years based on predictions right now; it could drag on beyond three years.

STOP LOSS, In Lieu of Taskings (ILO), 8 year minimum service obligations for advertised 2,3,4,6, enlistment options, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) call ups, Army recruiting 17-41 years olds, and felony waivers all contribute to hazy smoke screen sham, a US government shanghai subterfuge to maintain war fighting troop numbers.

Why do citizens allow government manipulation to legally abuse loopholes to press gang those already serving in a supposed All Volunteer Force to serve at perpetual pleasure of Commander in Chief?

Why does American public allow President as Commander in Chief backed by Congress to shamefully get away with a read the fine print, covert war conscription, and unofficial backdoor draft by stealth?

Sign up to serve your country to do your fair share, get indentured to serve in overseas war indefinitely or until wounded and death which ever comes first.

America, home of the brave!

Land of the free?

[inventagod2]

Must
get
the
Bu$h
Oil
Pipeline
built...

[samsel3]

And the extermination continues............

More than a year and half before 911 the CIA Special Activities Division was conducting operations in Afghanistan, trying to topple the Taliban regime for the Caspian Sea Oil & Gas Pipelines...........We now call such activities terror.



February 12, 1998 John J. Maresca vp of UNOCAL oil appeared before a House sub committee. The purpose of the meeting was to gain support for exploitation of oil & natural gas resources, for the rights purchased by BIG OIL in the Caspian Sea area.

In his testimony he stated, "The key question is how the energy resources of Central Asia can be made available to nearby Asian markets ". The exploitation option stated : "One obvious route south would cross Iran, but this is foreclosed by American companies because of U.S. sanctions (with Iran ) . The only other possible route is across Afghanistan, which of course has it''s own unique challenges. " He continued saying, " the pipeline we have proposed across Afghanistan could not begin until a recognized government is in place that has the confidence of governments,lenders (world monitary fund & world bank ) ,and our company "......"

UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".