More than 17-thousand soldiers now have standing orders to deploy to Iraq.

[Breeze54]

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/3438871.html

All 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers Headed Back To Iraq

Department Of Defense Announces 1st Cavalry Deployment Orders

For the second time in less than three years, the entire 1st Cavalry Division is heading to Iraq.

Earlier this year, the Department of Defense announced that most of the division would be deploying to Iraq,
Thursday afternoon the rest of the division got their orders.
It came as little surprise to the soldiers of the First Team when the final orders came down
for the remainder of the division to deploy to Iraq.
The First Brigade and the newly formed Fourth Brigade, about 5-thousand troops,
got their orders to deploy Thursday....
While a date for their deployment has not been set yet, the first and fourth brigades
officially got their orders from the DOD.

With today's announcement, the entire First Cavalry Division,
more than 17-thousand soldiers now have standing orders to deploy to Iraq.
The DOD says that force levels in iraq continue to be conditions-based and will be
determined in consultation with the iraqi government, and that deployment decisions
are made at the recommendation of military commanders in iraq based on conditions on the ground.
Meanwhile, senior U-S military commanders have been working on a plan to withdraw at least
a few thousand soldiers in coming months, however, no force reduction plans have been revealed.

In fact this week, the White House announced that many soldiers stationed in other parts
of Iraq would be shifted to Baghdad to assist Iraqi police.
It is expected that the 1st Cavalry will be rotated into Iraq to replace Fort Hood's
other division the Fourth Infantry Division.
The 4ID has been in country since late last year and is expected to begin returning to Fort Hood later this year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Escalation anyone??? :grr:

[gasperc]

1. so much for that pull back

man can things get any better??

[uppityperson]

2. I think they are trying to salvage something (green zone)

it is imploding, not escalating, hope these young men and women (and some not so young perhaps) come home safe and sane.

[gasperc]

3. maybe it's deploy, 17k now and then have 17k come home in Oct??

in the end it's a net zero, but in Oct the GOP plays up the fact that 17k troops are coming home and things are getting better!!!!!!!!11111

[catmandu57]

4. I don't think so

That may have been the plan very public drawdowns in time for November, but things are spinning out of control.

[Breeze54]

5. I agree!

This is NOT a good sign, at all.....

[Rex]

6. Getting ready for war with Iran.

17,000 soldiers won't do it, but that never stopped Rummy and Bush from getting our troops killed before. I guess my best friend will be going back to Iraq, he's stationed at Fort Hood. Will be his 2nd time back, 3rd time to the region. :(