Thousands more US troops sent to Baghdad to secure elections: general

[Barrett808]

An extra 5,000 US troops have been deployed in Baghdad ahead of January elections, a top US commander said, adding that security has been stepped up at all military bases in the capital in the wake of the Mosul bombing.

"We learn and react and we have done that with the Mosul incident," Brigadier General Jeffrey Hammond of the First Cavalry Division told reporters in Baghdad.

A suicide attack one week ago at a US army dining hall on a base in the northern city of Mosul killed 22, including 18 Americans, in the deadliest single attack against the United States in Iraq (news - web sites).

Hammond said that about 2,000 non-US employees and contractors working at the strategic Taji base, northwest of Baghdad, who had previous access to the base, were put through a thorough background check and vetting process after the camp shut down for a few days.

He said other security measures taken at all bases throughout Baghdad include searching all non-US citizens every time they enter places where US soldiers congregate, such as dining halls and other common areas.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/afp/20041228/pl_afp/iraqusvotesecurity

[Benhurst]

1. The more cannon fodder they throw at the problem,

the worse it's going to get.

Bring the troops home. They never should have been sent in the first place.

[driver8]

2. How about securing our elections??

We are sending more troops over there to die for "democracy". However, mention that there is a problem with our election process and you get called a tinfoil hat wearing liberal.

The hypocrisy of these idiots is unbelievable!

[maxsolomon]

3. after the elections, bush will declare victory & GTFO of iraq.

any civil war that may result from leaving iraq in the hands of the new iraqi "army" will be the fault of the Clenis.

[Rex]

4. I'm an Army vet

Every week the Army sends me a nice little "kit" in the mail trying to get me to rejoin. The envelope and all material looks real snazzy and the sign-up bonus would help pay the bills around here. Of course I never would rejoin - I'm not the suicidal type. I wonder if they send these letters to rich people? I mean, what is a $5,000 sign-up bonus to a billionare?

[LisaL]

5. They must be desperate-they send letters to basically everybody.

I got some letters from the army asking me to join. Why don't they ask Bush twins?
:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[DemBones DemBones]

6. The Bush twins pouted and got Daddy to stop

that annoying mail from the Army.

[sandnsea]

7. Let's us send them to the twins

That's what everybody should do with their military mailings, send them straight to Crawford Texas. I bet that Iconoclast guy would make sure they got delivered, or at least collect them and make a big tadoo out of trying to deliver them.

[InvisibleBallots]

8. I've heard about 3 50-year old men getting "recalled" and sent to Iraq

I had no idea it was so common - I talked to a group of friends yesterday, and each of them knew of a 50-something year old man, that had been discharged from the military 10-20 years ago, getting "recalled" and sent to Iraq.