Another 15,000 U.S. Troops Told to Prepare for Iraq

[Q]

Published on Saturday, September 27, 2003 by Reuters

Another 15,000 U.S. Troops Told to Prepare for Iraq

by Charles Aldinger

WASHINGTON - The United States on Friday activated 10,000 National Guard troops for service in Iraq and put another 5,000 on alert for likely call-up after its appeal for foreign military help met no immediate response.

Families of some of the part-time force members have expressed concern about disruptions to their lives. The Pentagon has already said National Guard and reservists now in Iraq and nearby would have to serve there up to a full year, as regular troops do.

The 30th Infantry Brigade from North Carolina and the 39th Infantry Brigade from Arkansas, each with 5,000 soldiers, were ordered to join the active duty force on Oct. 1 and Oct. 12 respectively. They will undergo about three months of training before going to Iraq early next year for a full year.

The Army also put the 5,000-strong 81st National Guard Brigade from Washington State on notice for a likely call to active duty in Iraq.

The call-up of the part-time solders from North Carolina and Arkansas for duty in Iraq -- where the United States already has 130,000 troops -- was expected because they had earlier been alerted for probable duty.

The new alert order for the Washington State brigade followed statements by top U.S. officers this week that more National Guard and Reserve troops would likely be needed because of reluctance on the part of other countries to answer President Bush's call for help in stabilizing the country.

Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the nation's second-ranking officer, said on Wednesday that additional call-ups would depend on whether other nations responded to Bush's appeal for troops and on the speed with which Iraqi forces could be trained to help shoulder the burden. - http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0927-04.htm

[Q]

1. Other stories floating around the web...

...suggest many of these troops will be used to 'protect' Iraq's oil industry...including pipelines and other related structures.

[calkooni]

2. Iraqis should have started policing Baghdad by now

Isn't it time the Iraqis took more control in policing them selves?

US troop are not suitable for "police" responsibilities.

[bigtree]

4. Most of these soldiers

will be used to guard the oil.

[bigtree]

3. These are a lot of older soldiers in that group

Now they have to support themselves for up to a year on a National Guard salary. Possibly lose their main job, no matter what safeguards are in place to prevent that. I know they didn't sign up to kill in Iraq. They are hostage to Bush's failing war.

[Pepperbelly]

5. I have been expecting this ...

it's the only option the hawks have to rotate people out of the theater. These assholes are stretching us so thin ...

Bonehead, Lice, Chainsaw, Scummy, and Sheldon are putting the nation at risk for their schemes. Seriously at risk.

:grr: